Systems and methods for secure package delivery and retrieval

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for smooth attended or unattended package delivery and retrieval may be provided through a container locker. Delivery companies and their respective delivery means may interact with the container locker wirelessly, through handheld devices, or through mechanisms provided on the container locker itself. The processes of receiving or pickup of a parcel or other item may be facilitated, regardless the user&#39;s presence or absence from the delivery/pickup location. Systems and methods may receive, secure, maintain, and temporarily house delivery or pickup items and concomitantly document, verify, confirm, and communicate data in varied forms to the parties interested or engaged in such deliveries or retrievals through a variety of connected networks, communication means and the use thereof.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/876,912 filed on Jul. 22,2019, entitled “SYSTEM, DEVICES AND METHOD TO PROVIDE THE SECUREDAUTOMATED MODULAR & PORTABLE ENVIRONMENTALLY/TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLEDLOCKER CONTAINER FOR THE TEMPORARY STORAGE OF ITEMS AND FOR MANNED ORUNMANNED DELIVERY OR RETRIEVAL WITH MECHANICAL AND DIGITAL SECURITY,VISUAL, AUDIBLE AND DATA RECORDATION AND COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES ANDOTHER UTILITY AND FEATURES,” which is incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to package delivery andretrieval, and more particularly to systems and methods to protect thepackages and verify that the delivery or retrieval event has occurred.

BACKGROUND

When a retailer, vendor, supplier or other purveyor of goods delivers aparcel, package, bag or loose item to a purchaser, there is an agreementmade between the buyer and the seller of the item(s) purchased.Typically, where delivery to a buyer is a part of the bargain, thepurchaser of the item(s) has either made payment on his/her credit card,the seller has already been paid for the item and, outside of warrantyor agreed return of item issues, successful delivery to the buyerretires the obligation to deliver the item to the buyer once the itemhas been placed in, on, or nearby the purchaser's domicile front door,office doorway or other mutually agreeable location. For a third-partydelivery person and/or her/his company, it is likely that she/he isengaged in a bailment activity or performance, wherein the transfer ofpossession of an item has occurred when she/he actually performs(completes) the delivery or retrieval. If something goes wrong, who isat fault? This question introduces multiple points of risk to thedelivery/pickup equation that can subject the delivered item to a widerange of issues while the item sits and waits on its intended recipientto retrieve it. Obviously, theft and/or spoilage is a consideration.What if the delivery person places the delivery at the foot of theintended recipient's front house door and another passerby (porchpirate) confiscates it before the intended recipient arrives? What if itis 100 degrees today and the package was left in the sun? As one cansee, delivery and pickups (returns of goods) can be quite complicated,and there are a lot of places for the introduction of risk,miscommunication, and misunderstanding in these processes, given all ofthe separate parties that perform their work therein, to take hold inthe overall process of getting a good from a seller's operation orwarehouse to the purchaser.

In addition to the costs associated with performing delivery and/orretrieval tasks, the existence of these legal complications is part andparcel, no pun intended, to what makes “the Last Mile Conundrum” anactual conundrum in the first place. One of the biggest roadblockspeople and online merchandisers and other purveyors of goods face dailyis the seamless conveyance of the item ordered (and usually paid for) tothe purchaser. That is, getting the item to the person that bought it.When these people buying goods online attempt to have their purchasesand other items delivered and or picked up from or at their location,they are faced with having to provide a safe, locked down and securedand/or climate controlled environment to store the item(s) temporarilyuntil their delivery or return, regardless how it is achieved.Holistically, we refer to this as the Last Mile Conundrum,” that is, thelast part of the distance between seller and purchaser in a delivery:getting the purchased good(s) physically to the buyer/recipient safely,securely and dutifully and confirming that the task is completed. “Thelast mile” is, holistically, everything involved in the delivery orretrieval given the distance, the people, timing variances, and otheruncompromising aspects that commonly exist between the location of thegood when purchased (its origin) and its final destination. Actuallybeing able to leave the delivery or pick up the item to be transportedelsewhere as a return at or from that location if one of the parties isabsent presents an altogether different set of problems, especially whenintended recipient is unable to be present for the act to occur inperson. Studies have shown that 74% of packages are stolen from homesduring the day when homeowners are at work, and the rate of packagetheft has been steadily increasing. More than 1.7 million packages arestolen or go missing daily, adding up to $25 million USD in lost goodsand services and costing sellers around $9 billion each year. And demandfor devices and systems that accommodate the phenomenon of “everythingbeing delivered to your door” are growing by leaps and bounds. Further,same-day delivery is becoming more critical.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide highly secured andcoded accessibility through container lockers which may be capable ofuse by either manned or unmanned parties for access provided that suchman or machine accessing the container locker is a permitted inviteethereof. This container locker may serve as a storage or holding cavitydesigned for receiving multiple deliveries to be made into it. Foroutbound items being returned to the purveyor, the device securely holdsthe item(s) until they are able to be retrieved by the appropriatecollector thereof. The container locker may include at least one lockingdoor or hatch or multiple or several locking doors/hatches to securegoods or items. These access points provide coded, bio-coded, or keyedaccess to its additional interior sub-domains (holding areas) byauthorized persons and deter and prevent others without permission toaccess it from gaining entry. In some embodiments, the container lockermay be controlled remotely via an App operating through a cell phone orcomputer which may also permit the user to relocate (drive) thecontainer locker to a more secure predesignated GPS location or visually(using cameras) determined location. The container locker's on-boardelectronic security systems may enable it to be secured and alarmedelectronically, digitally, and/or otherwise mechanically, and/or, inother embodiments, it may provide simple lock and key containment.Controlled heated and/or refrigerated storage for contents placedtherein may be provided and can serve the automated delivery of a parcelor item(s) by manned delivery personnel, a remotely-controlled unmannedaerial vehicle (UAV) and/or other manned or unmanned deliveries, such asautomated remotely-controlled delivery non-aerial vehicle or apparatusto a receiver/recipient in a secured manner in their absence. Thissystem also may allow for electronically dated (date-stamped), weighed,and time-stamped communication between the deliverer, the sender, therecipient, and other interested parties, so they may be electronicallyalerted to the conveyance or delivery status of the parcel or item(s),and users may be electronically notified and made aware of confirmationthat such parcel or item(s) has been delivered or picked up securely toor from the container locker. In addition to using GPS to confirm where,geographically, such container locker may be physically located at anyspecific point in time of its use, systems and methods according toembodiments of the present disclosure can also provide wirelesstransmission of other pertinent data and information to partiesinterested in the delivery or pickup. This system and method may providea communicative wirelessly or hard-wire connected “smart-receptacle” fordeliveries and may receive multiple deliveries of multiple types andsizes with varied delivery requirements from multiple senders thereof inany given day or period of time.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a container lockercomprising: a first cavity that accepts or holds one or more parcels; asecond cavity positioned below the first cavity, the second cavityhaving a ceiling that provides a cushioned surface for the first cavityto receive the one or more parcels, a scale, and a scale deck to weighthe one or more parcels; a third cavity that houses mechanical andelectrical equipment for operation of the container locker; and alockable lid that removably covers the first cavity. The second cavitymay further include a drop-cushion spring system positioned below theceiling. The mechanical and electrical equipment in the interior orexterior, preferably in the third cavity, in whole or in part, maycomprise one or more of the following: refrigeration equipment,heating/warming equipment, cellular phones and related cellulartechnology communication and interface devices, on-board single boardcomputers and other computers and interface devices, 4G, 5G (and futureversions of these protocols) repeater(s) or relay modules to complete 4G5G (including contemplated future versions thereof) networks andcommunication systems, interior and exterior cameras, scanners andoptical devices, USB and other computer interface connection ports,Wi-Fi repeaters and boosters, antennas and transmitter and transceivingdevices, communication and uplink modules, equipment and devices,electrical cords and plugs and related powering and charging equipment,batteries, battery-well access hatches and locks, security cords, powercords, gyroscopic devices, motion sensors, speakers, horns,piezoelectric sounders, interior or exterior lighting, LED-type ambient,emergency and security lights and lighting equipment, ancillaryjumper-duplex outlets, mobility and lid opening motors, gearing, gearboxes and related belts, chains and sprockets, and autonomous movementgearing or sprockets, axles and or wheels, knock-out penetrations, scaleequipment, and scale-related electronics and equipment that may serve inits intended uses. The lid may operate as a manual or an automatedtip-lid or slide-lid for the first cavity through interaction with oneor more on-board systems that perform opening, closing, unlocking, andlocking functions. The container locker also may include an insulativesleeve on a sidewall, the lockable lid and/or floor areas of thecontainer locker to control temperatures inside of the container lockerand/or a prescription pocket that may be locked and accessible throughone or more access points to the container locker, wherein theprescription pocket may be interiorly secured within the first cavityand independently accessible from an independent sidewall hatch orlocking opening, or separate independent outside areas of the containerlocker. The container locker also may include at least one interiorcamera that takes photographs and/or video of the at least one parcelinside the first cavity, wherein the photographs, related data, and/orvideo are transmitted to at least a sender, a recipient and/or adeliverer of the at least one parcel to confirm that the at least oneparcel is verifiably secured in the container locker or has beenretrieved from the container locker and at least one exterior camera forsecurity and remote user interface purposes when relocating (driving)the container locker that takes photographs and/or video of exteriorareas proximate the container locker wherein the photographs, relateddata, and/or video are similarly transmitted to at least a sender, arecipient and/or a deliverer of the at least one parcel to confirm thatthe at least one parcel is verifiably secured in the container locker orhas been retrieved from the container locker. The container locker mayfurther include a solar collector preferably positioned on top of thelid, wherein the solar collector may collect solar rays/heat and convertinto electricity to charge on-board batteries, operate the containerlocker, and/or charge devices connected to the container locker. The lidmay open to provide an unobstructed opening for manned or unmannedaerial or robotic delivery or retrieval of at the least one parcel fromthe first cavity. The container locker also may include a retractable orother type of security tether that may connect the container locker toan immovable object to secure the container locker in place and preventtheft, one or more computerized GPS devices, cameras and motion sensorsconfigured to generate one or more shut audio or visual alertsindicating a breach or attempted breach of the container locker,circuitry, antennas and related equipment configured for generatingtransmission of one or more wireless or cellular signals to provideconnectivity to local wireless or cellular communication systems toprovide, repeat, and boost signals to and to provide locationalinformation of the container locker, one or more wheels affixed to abottom portion of the container locker; and wheel covers that protectsurfaces as the container locker is rolled or moved across the surfaces,and on-board refrigeration and/or warming devices to maintain internalambient temperatures to prevent spoilage of contents of the at least oneparcel when placed in the first cavity. The container locker also mayinclude at least one on-board ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI)device or alternative sterilization system to sterilize contents placedinto the container locker to sanitize contents, prevent the transmissionof contagious diseases, and/or to clean and to prevent the spoilage ofcontents of the at least one parcel when placed in the container locker.

Other embodiments may provide a TotalVault™ DronePort™ (“DronePort”)providing a secured, access-controlled area or rooftop or rooftoppenetration combined with interior areas of the rooftop housing aplurality of container lockers, the DronePort comprising: a hard surfacematerial forming a base floor area of the DronePort; an access controlpanel proximate the secured, access-controlled area that is connected toa controller to provide selective restrictive access to the secured,access-controlled area; and at least one security camera to providesecurity to users of the DronePort, record happenings in the DronePort,and permit users to see at the access control panel who is alreadypresent in the DronePort, wherein the plurality of container lockers maybe arranged in rows and segments to permit pedestrian maneuvering andmanned and unmanned deliveries to each of the plurality of containerlockers, wherein each person in a group of people may access anindependent container locker of the plurality of container lockers. TheDronePort also may include a security fence around a perimeter of thehard surface material forming the base floor area of the DronePort, asecurity access-controlled entrance controlled through the accesscontrol panel, one or more oversized container lockers that may receivelarger parcels and/or accommodate when one or more of the plurality ofcontainer lockers are not in service, and/or programmable dusk-to-dawnlighting or motion-sensing at or near the at least one security camerato promote safety and usability of the DronePort in dark, darkening, ornighttime periods of time.

Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in theart from the following figures, descriptions and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference is nowmade to the following description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a container locker according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 depicts a side perspective view of a container locker accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 depicts a rear view of a container locker according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 depicts an indentation on cavity 5 of the container locker ofFIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 depicts a view of the sub-floor of cavity 9 of the containerlocker of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 depicts a view of the middle layer of cavity 8 of the containerlocker of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 depicts interaction between a container locker according to anembodiment of the present disclosure and an unmanned aerial vehicle orsimilar device;

FIG. 8 depicts the container locker according to another embodiment ofthe present disclosure; and

FIG. 9 depicts a layout of a scalable facility according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a portable,ground-fastened or permanently affixed, lockable and secured,multi-cavity, weatherproof or weather-resistant, automated,temperature/climate-controlled secured receptacle for manned or unmanneddeliveries and pick-ups (referred to as TotalVault™ or container lockerherein). The container locker may communicate the date, time, weight ofthe parcel, and may transmit such data to one or more parties interestedin the delivery or pick-up, including, but not limited to, the sender,recipient, and the delivery personnel or entity. Various securityfeatures and components may be provided including, but not limited to,cameras 15, microphones 15A, alarms 20B, lighting 4, 20B, motion sensors15B, GPS and gyroscopes 19, 16, and locational technologies, coupledwith one or more on-board computer systems 19 and their operatingsoftware, which are typically not reasonably accomplishable securely forthe would-be intended recipient if the specified intended recipient of adelivery is not present at the location where and when such delivery isintended to occur. Embodiments of the present disclosure may receivepackages, parcels, controlled medicines, documents, and other items ofmany types and sizes being delivered through delivery means such asdelivery personnel, drones and aerial drone drop services and/or otherautomated and/or mechanic means of the delivery of items.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide for the confirmedsecured delivery of dry goods and to permit such deliveries to remain inthe secured environment of cavity 5 (FIG. 1) until the intendedrecipient thereof may retrieve them. Depending on the type of item beingdelivered, after protection of the delivered items from theft, anenvironmentally-controlled and temperature-controlled environment may beprovided for perishable goods delivery and to protect all delivery(ies)from the elements, such as rain, wind, snow, freezing temperatures,overly hot temperatures, and weather in general, after their deliveryfrom a merchant, purveyor or others desiring to make a delivery tocustomer, specified recipient or other person, especially when suchcustomer, specified recipient, or other person is unavailable to receivethe delivery personally and/or has no one to accept such delivery intheir stead. In addition to the aforementioned uses, embodiments of thepresent disclosure may also be used around one's home, office, or,because, in its portable form, it is wheeled, it may fit through astandard sized doorway, is lightweight, and is easily moved around tovaried locations for use. Its portability and on-board battery 27 and/orother batteries which may also be placed in other varied locationsthroughout the container locker, may power various components for alitany of specific purposes, including but not limited to, powerdelivery capabilities, temporary food refrigeration or warming, warmingtasks while cooking out, having a bar-b-que, picnicking and the like,boost Wi-Fi signals from through antennas 16, operate as a wireless,hard-wired or digital tether through on-board electronics 19 to linkcellular and other wireless networking and boosting, provide additionalelectrical outlets at such remote locations or sites, and provide forthe secured storage of items in the container locker while situated inand around remote areas of one's home, office, a campsite and the like.

FIG. 1 depicts a container locker according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. As depicted in FIG. 1, a container locker mayinclude three primary cavities or spaces 5, 8, 9 that may be stacked ontop of one another and joined together and electronically integrated.Cavity 5 may be referred to as the main cavity or the temperature orenvironmentally controlled container area. Cavity 5 generally mayprovide the largest container space with a wide opening at the top thatmay be covered with one or more automated or non-automated lids/tops.Cavity 5 may be used for receiving and/or holding parcels, packages,boxes, bags, and other items that may be delivered to the containerlocker. Cavity 5 may be considered the top-most cavity in the containerlocker and also may house prescription pocket (Rx pocket) 27, which willbe described in more detail below.

For highly regulated deliveries such as those with controlled medicinesand controlled substances, especially like marijuana and marijuanaproducts, addictive opiates and other drugs, the locker may include anautomated drug delivery system which verifies the patient's identity andcontrols the number of refills issued to the patient according to theprescribed dose and schedule that may, through GPS and other secured andrecognized means be delivered to the locker in the patient's absence.The locker may contain separate secured and locked dispensing box orpocket 27 with one or more compartments interiorly secured as a separatelocking sub-domain or separately secured space of main container area incavity 5, such area or pocket (the Rx Pocket™) being inside of thesecured area of the main part(s) of the larger container wherein thedispensation (delivery) of pharmacy prescriptions and medicines may belegally and lawfully be placed for the owner/user. Rx Pocket 27 also hasutility for the delivery of other highly valuable or confidentiallydelivered items such as legal documents, jewelry or other smallexpensive or important items and/or other important confidential and/ordelivery-regulated and/or climate control needed items which may bedeserved of another layer of security when such delivery may be desiredto be delivered to a recipient in his or her absence and where suchdelivery, once made, is not accessible by children or others that do nothave the proper code or means to unlock the area and to providesovereign access for the user in order to retrieve his or herprescription or item. Electronic communication system 19 and 16 of thelocker may be specifically designed to be programmed or otherwiseconfigured to alert and document the delivery personnel, the recipient,the pharmacist, druggist or pharmacy, the prescribing doctor, and othersinterested in the confirmation of the secured delivery of suchprescription that the medicine or items have actually been delivered toan ultra-secured space and that same are, as of delivery confirmation,waiting for the patient to retrieve them via electronic transmittal ordata transmission. De-risking this delivery equation for the dispensersof such controlled medicines with the several forms of documentation andconfirmation to all parties interested to the delivery of thesecontrolled items is as important to the sender thereof as it is thereceiver and the locker may provide every party with the data andinformation necessary to bring this convenience to the parties in thisrealm,

In some embodiments, when the locker is interconnected with or otherwiseinterfaced with automated drug or medicine delivery systems or otherwirelessly or hard-wire communication oriented connected deliveryformats, the automated (manned or unmanned) drug delivery system mayrequire the use one or more verification protocols, PINs, codes orverification forms to verify the prescription details and the patient'sregistered identity and, as dictated and controlled lawfully by theprescribing doctor and or pharmacist or druggist, may resultantlycontrol the number of refills issued to the patient according to theprescribed dose and schedule. Integration with these dispensers is madewirelessly or through hard-wire connectivity to the locker's computersor systems through to the dispensary's computer servers and/or systemsthrough the internet, via cellular or other electronic means and thelocker's on-board communication systems 16 and 19 per the recorded andenforceable agreements previously made between the dispensary, dispenser(pharmacist or druggist) and the recipient/receiver or patient via fordeliveries and pickups as prescribed by such agreements.

Some embodiments, due to the regulation and importance to patients toreceive their medicines on time and securely, may be provided in asmaller size from the larger versions of the present locker for a seniorcitizen or other person with a disability or mobility issues. Thisseparately designed and utilized version of the locker would, in asmaller profile, provide a locked dispensing box with one or morecompartments and many of the electronic security and features as thelarger scoped version but would be used by the owner/user simply as awirelessly or cellularly connected Rx Drop Box, such as the Rx Pocket inthe locker, but separate and independently constructed and used for“only” pharmacy and drugstore related and for, in some cases,Rx-regulated types of deliveries, and the patient/user, pharmacy,pharmacist or druggist, prescribing Doctor and others interested in theconfirmation of the secured delivery of such prescription that themedicine or items have actually been delivered to an ultra-secured spaceand that same are, as of delivery confirmation, waiting for the patientto retrieve them would be similar, if not identical to that which thelarger rendition of the locker would provide. These smaller highlysecured versions or embodiments of the locker would either bepermanently anchored at a convenient location for the parties on thereceiver's property or could similarly be made portable and tethered orotherwise anchored to prevent theft and are designed for the receiver toretrieve the entire container to bring it into his or her home tocollect the medicines or prescriptions therefrom. This may be designedfor senior citizens whose inability to go to the drugstore or otherlimitations to their mobility to do so are afforded an opportunity toreceive their medicines at their doorstep for convenience and theirhealth overall.

Cavity 5 may be covered and/or sealed with lid 1 made of variousplastics, metals and or other substrates which are conducive to theconstruction of same and preventing unauthorized parties unforced accessthrough the orifice opening to the cavities' interior areas and whichmay, generally, deter them or otherwise dissuade them from gaining entryinto the locker. In some embodiments, the locker and its contents, asplaced inside, may be secured with locking sliding lid 1 (TOP™ TotalOpen Porthole Lid™), hereinafter referred to as the “TOP Lid” or lid 1.Lid 1, in several forms and formats, may be designed to slide laterallyand tip its cantilevered end downwardly toward the ground or floor as itopens the main portal or opening of the top of cavity 5 of the locker asit opens from one side (front or side) of the container) to the other(the backside or juxtaposed side) as it opens and reverses to close.Some embodiments may use an electric single or double shaft worm geartype motor, or other types of high torque motors and sprocket, belts,and/or chain-type system utilizing one or more motors or sprocketsand/or alternative steel lead screw set with mounted ball bearing andshaft coupling type of a motorized corkscrew type or articulating hingedtype closing mechanism (like a garage door opening device utilizes) willbe employed to perform the opening and closing function(s). In otherembodiments, slide lid 1 and lock or locking mechanism 18, like onewould see on a roll-out styled waste or trash container (FIG. 8)commonly used as a trash receptacle in residential and commercialsettings, may use a single or dual shaft, generally high-torque electricmotor and sprocket (or gear) system 3 to open the top of cavity 5 whenmanned or unmanned means are depositing or retrieving contents fromcavity 5. Lid 1 allows the top to flip open 22 approximately 270 degreesfrom its origin and lie (or hang) down along the vertical side/edge ofthe locker's backside when opened in order to expose and provide accessto open up the entire opening of the top of the locker (FIGS. 2, 8) tomake it easier for a UAV or drone or other automated delivery functions,such as delivery robots, to emerge to be used when loading the containeror retrieving an item related to an intended delivery or pickup.

The materials comprising the floor of cavity 5 may be rigid, durable andwashable and may float above or otherwise be suspended on drop-cushionspring system 11 and/or other cushioning system to protect packagecontents as a parcel is dropped into cavity 5 from above the locker. Thefloor of cavity 5 may also serve as a scale deck or platform used inconjunction with the digital load-cell and weighing system below it incavity 5 or cavity 8 and/or around its surface edges and as connectedwith the other on-board electronics and computer(s) 19 and/or otherexterior networked computers through wireless networking means providedby its on-board systems used in the weighing of contents, the digital orphotographic recording of this activity and the wireless or hard-wiredtransmission of data relative to the delivery and the weight of thecontents placed into or retrieved from cavity 5 which may be transmittedto interested parties as deliveries or retrievals are made using cavity5.

In some embodiments, the bottom (floor) area of cavity 5 may be elevatedor suspended above the bottom of the main cavity floor or theinterstitial space directly below it, typically cavity 8. Whileelevating and/or suspending the floor diminishes the useable area of themain cavity of the locker, it generally leaves enough space for thelargest of average sized delivery parcels to be placed in cavity 5.Constructing a raised floor results in the creation of an interstitialspace between the bottom of the suspended floor of the main compartment(or compartments) underneath in the bottom of the locker to housecomponents, devices, and other things or items that are instrumental inthe utility general use of the locker as a whole but which are out ofsight and protected. This area is out of sight when peering into themain area(s) of the locker from above with top Lid 1 opened, beinghidden below the floor or scale-deck to the observer or typical subjectuser peering into the locker. Cavities 8, 9 below cavity 5 may house andcentrally locate for use throughout the locker a wide variety ofelectronics 19, wiring, load-cells and weighing instrument 8, speakers19B, horns 25B, components and parts 8 and 9, such as but not limitedto, thermoelectric refrigeration and warming equipment 5, 8 and 9, otherrefrigeration machinery or equipment 5, 8 and 9, wiring 13, 17 and 20,retractable and/or other electrical plugs, cord and wires 24,retractable and other forms of lock tethers or cords and lockingmechanisms 25 and 25C, computers 19 and computer-peripheral devices 8and 9, and other operationally related devices, appliances and itemslocated in and/or connected to locations throughout the entirety of thelocker to comprise a series of integrated systems that work in harmonyin the operation and security theft prevention.

Cavity 8 may provide an interstitial space between cavity 5 and cavity9. Top (ceiling) 12 may be a spider-lifted scale deck or floating orcushion landing surface sitting on or above drop-cushion spring system11 for dropping packages or parcels into cavity 5. Cavity 8 may bepositioned directly below cavity 5, and in some embodiments of thepresent disclosure, the floor of cavity 5 may be the ceiling of cavity8, thereby dividing into two cavities. This floor also may provide acushioned flooring structure designed to cushion parcels landing incavity 5 from becoming damaged, as they may be suspended using aspring-loaded or other similar cushioning system. The floor also mayserve as a scale deck for weighing contents placed into cavity 5, and ifso, the floor may be connected to a digital load-cell, flexure system,or spider support and supporting electronics, wiring and sensors causingits operation as a scale that may be housed in the space of cavity 8 inan embodiment of the present disclosure.

Cavity 9 may house mechanical and electrical equipment including, butnot limited to, refrigeration or heating/warming thermo-electric orother heating/cooling types of equipment, batteries of various sizes forvaried needs, battery-well access hatches and locks, security cords,power cords, gyroscopic devices, motion sensors, speakers, horns,piezoelectric sounders, interior or exterior lighting or LED-typeemergency security lighting equipment, ancillary jumper-duplex outlets,mobility motors and related autonomous movement gearing or sprockets,axles and or wheels, and, among other things, knock-out penetrations forfuture use, scale-related equipment like the scale deck spider, orflexure-base deck support, the scale deck, a digital load-cell, scaleequipment, and related and unrelated scale electronics, and otherdevices, appliances, wiring, components and computers and other items.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may weigh the delivered orretrieved parcels to confirm and verify the correctness (orincorrectness) of the delivery or retrieval made using weigh scalesystem 8, 19, 12. Once a parcel is dropped and is situated on scale deck12 in cavity 5, the weigh-scale system of cavity 8 may tabulate theparcel's weight and transmit that data using computers and systems 19 tointerested parties. If a parcel is retrieved from the locker, the weightremoved from scale deck 12 and load-cell 8 underneath it may betabulated and transmitted to interested parties as well. Once UAV 31 hasdropped its payload or retrieved an item for return, UAV 31 will moveaway from the drop zone area and hover while continuing to communicatewirelessly with the locker. These communications, will, in addition tothe transfer of other data will trigger lid 1 to close, and, onceclosed, re-locked and complete, UAV 31 may depart its drop zone andreturn to base or other point of origin. While data transmittals andother communications may be transferred back and forth through wireless,perhaps cellular-type connection between the locker and the UAV or otherunmanned mechanical apparatus, parts or all of the data collected in thedelivery or retrieval may be compiled and stored and or wirelessly orhard-wire transmitted to a server, the cloud and/or other digitalstorage means for storage and future use by the parties related to thepurchase, sale and delivery or retrieval of parcel 32 delivered orretrieved. Such data might include, but not be limited to, confirmationsof data transferred between UAV 31 and the locker through thecommunication systems of both, descriptions of the contents in parcels32 delivered or retrieved, operating statistics for UAV 31 and thelocker, confirmation(s) that lid 1 was closed after completion of thedelivery or retrieval, confirmation that maglock system 18 wasre-secured and locked down, photographs taken in the locker or aroundthe locker of the newly placed or absence of the then retrieved parcelsor contents or delivery personnel performing their retrieval or deliveryduties by camera 15 or other cameras 28, photos or video of the deliveryor retrieval event itself while being undertaken by cameras 15 and/or18, videos or photos and weights associated contents placed in orretrieved from re-locked cavity 5 of the locker and a multitude of otherreasonably useable conformational data regarding the delivery orretrieval.

Lid or cover 1 may utilize a mechanical, magnetic or other form oflocking mechanisms 18 to ensure that deliveries, once received in thecontainer are not accessible to others outside of the intended recipientor those with proper codes, PIN numbers or other approved means to haveaccess thereto. Locking mechanism(s) 18 used may be integrated with thedevice's on-board computer and other computers, electronic componentsand systems and software controlling the use of the apparatus. Theselocking mechanisms may be integrated with and communicate with thedevice's electronics and/or communications systems using thosecomponents and their software present in the device and other devicesinteracting with it. In some embodiments, a simpler electronic ormechanical lock system may be used in lieu of the aforementioned maglockstyle locking system.

Various forms of electromagnetic, electromechanical and mechanical formsof locking mechanisms 18, including regular physical lock and key typesof locks, and the inclusion of other electronics, electronic wiring ormechanical components, like handle 2A to activate such locks and whichmay be used in and comprise a part of the construction of the locker maybe configured to lock out would-be thieves and others from gainingaccess to interior areas of the container where packages, parcels, bags,pharmacy products and other items are temporarily stored for theuser/recipient in cavity 5 or Rx Pocket 27 until the intended recipientcan retrieve them. In some embodiments, the lid locks for lid 1 and RxPocket 27, protective caps or covers, and/or other sub-domain areas ifany, may use padlocks, combination locks, compact sized cam locks orother locks like those used in containers, cabinets, drawers, drugcabinets, credenzas, sliding doors, lockers, mail boxes and other doortype applications where such compact size can permit for the lock to fitin an existing cam lock sized opening and provides electronic access viaa keypad and display 14 or other electronic access depicted in 27, suchelectronics being operated by hard-wired, AC, DC or battery backup powersources. In other embodiments and depending on design, using batteries,such as AAA or D size batteries or smaller or using keys or codes, PINSor may also be used to lock or unlock portions or cavities, to turn aknob or a handle, or to otherwise utilize electronics that release alock turn knob or handle when the correct access code or biometric datais entered may be utilized.

In other embodiments, varied types of locks, especially electromagneticlocks 18 and their wiring 17, keypad and display and communicationscenter (comm center) 14 and 27, wherein an electromagnetic lock,magnetic lock, or maglock as a locking device may include one or moreelectromagnets and an armature plate(s) in varied forms, are employed todeny or permit access to interior secured areas of the container locker,such access being granted through electronic access via keypad anddisplay 14 through the use of a PIN Number or other electronic codedaccess key through keypad and display 14 as a part of communicationscenter 14 or 27 to the locker or other sub-domains thereof. Suchelectromagnetic locks may be configured as be either “fail safe” or“fail secure” wherein a fail-secure locking device remains locked whenpower is lost and a fail-safe locking device is unlocked whende-energized from power provided from on-board batteries 27 or throughother sources using the power cord and plug 24 or low-voltage connector26. And yet other embodiments may utilize other common lock and keytechnology and/or other system-integrated electronic and/or mechanicalor hybrid forms of locking and locking mechanisms in places throughoutthe locker to secure and prevent unauthorized access to one or moreareas of the cavities or areas. A simple lock and key may also be usedto secure lid 1 to the base of the container locker.

Cavity 9 may be positioned below cavity 8, and its base/bottom may formthe bottom of the container locker as depicted in FIG. 1. Floor 10 isthe ceiling of cavity 9 and the floor of cavity 8. It may be made of avariety of substances including but not limited to plastics, fiberglass,metals or steels and/or others, being suspended and supported by anengineered riser to create space in between the floor of the containerand the bottom of cavity 8. Floor support legs 10A may support floor 10and may be molded, screwed, or riveted support posts or attachmentsprovided around the edges of floor 10 where or near where it meets thesidewalls of the cavity. Floor support posts 10B may be molded, screwed,or riveted support posts or attachments provided around the edges offloor 10 to secure the surface of floor 10 to the sidewalls of theinterior of the container locker to support the load of equipment incavity 8.

There may be a soft-landing floor that also serves as scale deck 10(FIG. 5) on the interior of cavity 5. Floor 10 may be constructed of awide variety of materials including but not limited to plastics,fiberglass, metals, mesh and other substantive substrates and/ormaterials which are conducive to the wear and tear that the floor of thelocker will endure. In some embodiments, the bottom of the installedfloor of cavity 5 sits upon a series of springs 11 (FIG. 6) fixed to thefloor or sidewalls of the raw container and which is connect also to thebottom of the suspended floor 10 below it, mounted to the sidewalls andthe bottom of cavity 9 below it to provide stability to the constructionof the locker. One familiar with the art will recognize that otheralternative designs to segregate areas or cavities as otherwiseconceived which may also provide for more efficient means of thestacking or arranging of cavities or, perhaps the deletion of one ormore cavities may lend themselves to added utility and/or the decreasein cost of the manufacture or use of the locker. Alternative designs toweighing contents, such as the use of aluminum, metal or other forms ofnetting, and those which permit for the suspension of the floor toprovide a softer eased landing when drone-dropped and other mechanicallydelivered items are dropped into the container to provide a cushionedlanding and to prevent or deter the breakage or other damage to/of theitems being dropped into the locker which are enclosed in the parcels,packages, or bags, etc. when released and delivered as they land in thecontainer may be considered.

The floor of cavity 8 may be the ceiling of cavity 9 and may divide thetwo cavities. Cavity 9 may be formed through a fabricated insert (FIG.5). Cavity 9 may house the electrical and/or mechanical devices,appliances, and/or systems that may support the operation of thecontainer locker. These devices, appliances, and/or systems may include,but are not limited to, batteries, warming and/or refrigerationequipment, thermoelectric devices and systems, retractable power cords24 and plugs, retractable security tether cables 25, other solid-mountedsecurity tethers or locking mechanisms, duplex electrical jumper outlets23, Bluetooth connectible speakers 19B, piezoelectric sounders, audiblealarms and/or horns 25B, all of which may be permanently or removablyhoused within cavity 9. If the container locker is permanently affixedto a location, such as in a DronePort Terminal array, one or more boltsor other fasteners may protrude through the exterior bottom of cavity 9with washers and nuts tightened to securely attach the container locker.These fastener assemblies may be completely enclosed on the inside ofcavity 9 so they are inaccessible to the user but are accessible totechnicians and repair personnel by removing the scale deck andequipment and floors above cavity 9 when they may choose to remove thecontainer locker from its permanent location for service or replacement.While three cavities are depicted herein, it should be appreciated thatthere may be embodiments of the present disclosure where more or fewercavities may be provided.

FIG. 1 also depicts handle 2A which may be used for manipulatingmovement of the container locker by hand and/or handle 2A may be used totether the container locker to immovable objects in the absence of othersecuring components. Open and closure drive train 2 may includesprockets, gears, chains, and/or motor parts or other hatch-openingcomponents used in the opening and closing of cavity 5 for deliveries orretrievals. Electrical motors 3 may be positioned below open and closuredrive train 2 and may also include related gear-boxes, sprockets and/orlid 1 auto-opening equipment or the container locker's self-driving orprogrammed mobility gearing, sprockets, axles connected to wheels 7 fordriving for relocation of the container locker in embodiments of thepresent disclosure. Wheels 7 may be typically 7.5″ to 12″ in diameterand constructed of plastics or rubberized materials to protect interiorflooring of areas indoors when wheeled thereinto to unload and oroperate.

In some embodiments, the container locker may be fitted with one or morewheels 7 and axle(s) 21 with wheel-covers 7A. In some embodiments, thehandle system may be a built-in molded handle system to tilt and move(roll) it around easily and, resultantly, makes this locker portable andreadily moveable to any user-convenient location preferred by the userfor the receiving of packages, parcels and/or items and a multitude ofother uses in locations where it may be secured via locking tether 25,plated screw-eye (security eyelet) 25C mounted to the bottom areas ofthe exterior of cavity 9 and/or other locking or lock-down means such asa docking station (not pictured) securing the locker to a permanentlocation and/or affixing it to the structure of a building, to insurethat the locker and its contents may not easily be stolen from its thencurrent location. In some embodiments, surfaces of wheel 7 may besoftened and may be constructed of soft rubberized or other materials ofvaried sorts or which may be covered with temporary or permanent wheelcovers 7A, that may lessen damage to surfaces that the device is movedover and to prevent floors made of tiles, marbles, smooth surfacedstones, laminates and wood, and the like, from being scratched as theloaded container is rolled over them when relocating the containerlocker. This is especially important to the user/owner when wheeling theheavier-when-full device into one's home or office to unload the deviceinside his/her home or office setting. In other embodiments, such aswhen multiple lockers are communally housed in a secured area, like aDronePort Terminal™ facility, the wheels may be removed, and each lockermay be permanently fastened to its location with bolts and nuts.

In some embodiments, an additional security benefit may be provided bythe container locker being relocated to a safer or more secure locationon its own. Using three or more wheels 7 and 7A and proximity or motionsensors and/or cameras, the locker can, using a built-in electric motor3 to be remotely pilotable by the user and/or may also drive itself, inthe absence of a person there at the location to do so, to anotherlocation from where it was situated when a delivery or retrieval wasmade into or out of cavity 5 by using on-board computer 19 connectivitywith electric motor 3 or additional electric motor 3 housed near wheels7. In this case, the locker being wirelessly linked using its on-boardcomm-center systems 19 and other on-board devices and appliancescontained therein, like antennas 16 and cameras 15, in conjunction withother off-board systems and computers, most likely also using cellulartechnologies, and software and GPS technologies through a softwareapplication (i.e. an App) on the user's remote cell phone, computer, orsmartpad to trigger the maneuver, the entire locker can engage the motorand gear box connected to wheels 7 and can drive itself to apredetermined location prescribed in advance by the user that is saferuntil he/she can gather the contents at a later time. The lockeraccording to embodiments of the present disclosure can also beprogrammed to accomplish this automatically at predetermined times basedon predetermined variables such as, after the locker is opened and adelivery is made, drive to X-spot in the garage interconnectivity with agarage door opener model on-board, the locker could allow it to open thegarage door, drive into a predetermined spot in the garage and to closethe garage door behind it. One familiar with the art would alsorecognize that interconnected wirelessly operated or automated off-boardsystems like a garage door, an electronically locked and digitallyoperated gate or the like might also be interconnected to allow same toopen to provide the locker with a clear path and/or access to suchsecure areas such as a garage or behind a gate, or, even, to apredetermined location along or behind a structure or fence which mightbe hidden from sight to passers-by and or would-be thieves seeking toforce access into the locker's cavities and steal the goods in theuser/owner's absence. Interconnectivity with other security and accesstype systems provides limitless utility whether the user is on an appdriving the locker, or the locker may be pre-programmed to maneuver toanother location after a particular event has triggered it.

The container locker also may include interior automatic lighting 4 thatmay automatically light the interior of cavity 5 and/or prescriptionpocket 27 when the container locker is opened for use. Exterior 6 of thecontainer locker may be reflective and/or glow-in-the-dark and may becomprised of plastics to provide high visibility in dark or darkeningenvironments. Plastics may provide highly luminous reflective exteriorsurface 6 when exposed to direct lighting in dark or darkening settings(like that that headlights of a car truck or van on a highway signprovides) and, even, the ability for the same surface 6 to glow in thedark when it is situated in darkness after being exposed to light toabsorb sunlight throughout the daytime to charge the apparatuses'exterior surface's 6 to sunlight and chemically generate its glow atnight.

Communication center keypad and screen display 14 may include, but isnot limited to, a microphone, motion or other sensors, cameras, cellulartelephones, USB or other connectivity ports, a visual display or screenwith optical (eye), facial, fingerprint or other biometricidentification reader (sometimes in conjunction with camera 15), and akeypad bearing digits, symbols or alphabetical letters or other numeric,alphabetical, thumb or fingerprint for biometric identification used forhuman or other interaction with unlocking the container locker,communicating through its systems or other manipulation of the systemsused in the container locker, including, but not limited to programmingits systems, or controlling its security or other functions asinterfaced and interconnected with its computers and systems. USBconnectivity port 14A may provide one or more USB interface ports forconnection to the systems, computers, devices speakers, securitysystems, appliances and/or all connectible systems on-board or remotelyin the container locker. Camera 15 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may be a 1080p camera including night-visioncapability with a fish-eye camera lens used in bar code scanning,security, communications and other operations with and through thecontainer locker as connected to systems contained on-board and/ornetworked to or through remotely. One or more microphones 15A may beused in security, communications, and other operations with and throughthe container locker as connected to systems contained on-board and/ornetworked to or through it remotely. One or more motion sensors 15B maybe used for security, communications and other operations with andthrough the container locker as connected to systems contained on-boardand/or networked to or through it remotely.

The locker may be interiorly or exteriorly insulated in a variety ofways, including, but not limited to, using insulative properties in thematerials used in the construction of the side walls of the locker, theuse of an interior or exterior insulated or fitted sleeve or interior orexterior jacket 5A around the some or all of the locker, use of blown-onmaterials inside or outside of the container and/or the container walls5A may be constructed using insulative materials to provide relatedcooling and/or warming properties and/or to create a barrier 5A betweenthe received contents of the locker and areas outside of the containerby filling an insulative interstitial space in between layers of theside-wall materials (inside and outside of the locker to create an areabuffering the inside of the locker container, including areas on theunderside of lid 1 from the elements outside thereof and creating aninterior contents delivery space that can be more easily climatecontrolled with the refrigeration and or warming devices 9. Insulationsleeve 5A may provide an insulative component or insulation built intothe container sidewalls. Other removable or non-removable, interiorly orexteriorly applied insulative jacket, sleeve or other adhered materialsmay be provided to control temperatures inside of cavity 9 and/orprescription pocket 27 or other cavities. Wiring harnesses 13 may beused to electrically connect appliances, batteries, devices, computers,lighting, or other equipment throughout the container locker.

Cavity 5 of the locker may be injection-molded, roto-molded or may useother forms of construction related to the manufacture of containers,lockers, coolers or iceboxes and the like including, but not limited towelding, stamping, printing and other alternative forms of constructinga container. One embodiment may use a construction much like that of anice-chest or cooler wherein the walls of the locker container may bemolded and filled with materials that have insulating properties thateither increase or decrease cooling or heating loss or heat gain insidethe locker relative to the exterior of the locker. Another embodimentmay insulate parts of the interior receiving area(s) of the locker withvarious types of materials 5A that inhibit heat transfer between theinside and outside of the locker that may snap or adhere/attach onto theinterior walls of the container or onto the outside of the exterior ofthe locker, may be magnetically bound or otherwise adhered permanentlyor temporarily to the interior or exterior or otherwise may be attachedto the container by the user to insulate contents as desired. Some ofthese materials may be constructed as inserts which may be permanentlyor temporarily installed in the interior as the user/owner prefers foruse of the device and depending on what specific types of contents arebeing anticipated for delivery by the owner/user. Insulated inserts mayalso, in some embodiments, be used as a jacket, bag or type of warmingor cooling bag container that delivery personnel or drones actuallytransport the items, like, but not limited to, groceries, in toinsulate, warm or cool and otherwise preserve the items while in transitwhen they are being delivered from their origin to the recipient. Onceat the location of the locker, the entirety of the insulated bag,including the items delivered in it, are placed into the lockerinsulated cavity to further maintain temperatures and preservation untilthe recipient retrieves the delivery from the locker.

Drop-cushion spring system 11 may use springs, spring-loaded sleeves,elastics, cushioning fabrics or other means to cushion the blow ofpackages or parcels being dropped into cavity 5. Floor insert supports11A may be molded, screwed, or riveted support posts for fastening orotherwise connecting the floating/drop-cushion floor and scale deck 12to supportive cushioning spring system 11. Floor and scale deck 12 mayuse cushioning system 11 to lighten the shock of dropped packages incavity 5 and may provide a scale deck used with a load-cell and scalesystem to weigh or tabulate items that may be placed into or retrievedfrom the floor of cavity 5. Embodiments may utilize a digital load-cell,and or a hydraulic transducer, often referred to as load cell 8. Avoltage may be applied to the device and/or its sub-system, and theweight causes the current through it to change. The current may beconverted to a digital number by an analog-to-digital converter,translated by digital logic to the correct units, and displayed on thedisplay to indicate to the user or system reading same the weight of theobject as measured in the aforementioned units. Usually, the device andits system or sub-system will be run by on-board computer 19 and itsembedded microprocessor chip that tabulate, tally and forward on tointerested parties, the data and other information tabulated, dated,tallied, etc. that is associated with a particular delivery and/orpickup as the item(s) is/are placed into or retrieved from cavity 5.

The locker may operate its electronics and systems 19, 14, 15, 16, 8 andothers internally using low-voltage circuitry, preferably in the 12 v DCrange and may be connected to other DC power sources to charge oroperate and or may be connected to alternating current (AC) sources ofelectricity through its electrical cord and plug 24 to either operate orcharge on-board batteries 27 via the use of varied AC to DC and/or DC toAC adapters located in cavity 9. Some versions of the locker may justplug in and may operate on normal common (US) 120 v AC (60 Hz) mainselectricity. The printed board circuitry (PCB) 19 may be engineered fora 12-volt standard for construction and operation with the capability tobe connected to other mains power source voltages using commonly adoptedAC-to-DC transformers. In the United States, where hard wire connected,the device may be plugged in and powered with normal common 120 v AC (60Hz) mains electricity from a typical electrical outlet used widelythroughout the US through the electrical cord and plug 24 andjurisdictions thusly powered therein. Other embodiments which aredesigned for areas outside of the U.S. may utilize different electricaldesigns and voltages that are commonly or customarily utilizedindigenously in the areas where the locker is used, deployed, sold orprovided understanding that electrical cords and plugs 24 wouldnecessarily be modified for these areas and locations. Alternativeembodiments contemplated will utilize rechargeable low-voltage on-boardDC batteries 27 to operate the apparatus or some parts of it and itsrelated systems. Where such batteries 27 are employed in the use of theapparatus, connectivity to common house current through a standardelectrical outlet may also provide for the operation of the device inlieu of the batteries when plugged in and such connectivity may alsotrickle-charge the on-board batteries 27 simultaneously. When unpluggedfrom a house mains electrical source, the locker may be energizedthrough on-board batteries 27 in its entirety. Many embodiments mayutilize a low-voltage on-board electrical system for electronic and ordigital, lighting 4, 20B, 20C, cameras 15 and 28, alarms 19, 19B, and25B and the operation of a cell phone and/or computer 19 and the likeused in the operation of the device and which are that are intended tobe operating as a part of the locker's use. Other embodiments may alsohave a port or ports to plug in and charge or operate other devicesthrough the locker's connectivity or batteries when plugged into thedevice for charging or use to boost or extend wireless connectivityradii 16 and 19 to be used by the appliance itself and/or other nearbywirelessly connected devices as well. Although other voltages andconfigurations might be utilized, common voltage ranges for operationsand use of the appliance would typically fall below 49 volts (as definedby the United States 2005 National Electrical Code (NEC) defines low(distribution system) voltage as 0 to 49 volts), and more specifically,likely between 3.0 volts DC and 30 volts DC. In foreign jurisdictions,and, in AC-designed or configured systems, “low voltage” may be definedby The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) definition forlow voltage, typically meaning, “Between 50 v AC and 1000 v AC.

Some embodiments also may include a docking station form of lockingsystem which secures the locker in one location and which restricts theapparatus from being easily removed from its intended location. Thissystem of locking down the locker may use docking station connector 25C,which may use plated screw-eye (security eyelet) 25C and using interiorand exterior substrate plates for reinforcement and which is mounted tothe bottom areas of the exterior of cavity 9 and permanently affixed tothe bottom sidewall of the locker may include a variety of means and ofthe utilization of a preferably metal pre-designed wheel-over lockingmechanism that the locker may be easily wheeled or drive itself over torest in place securely and be released from the locked position using afoot activated pressure plate (not pictured herein), once the propersecurity code has been entered and recognized by the onboard system(s)and computers and software 19. Locking wheels may also be used inaddition to or as an alternative to a docking station and/or other formof security tether to prohibit the locker from being easily moved,relocated and/or stolen from its intended location.

Antennas 16 may broadcast and/or receive signals used in the operationof the container locker including, but not limited to, use in cellular,wireless, Bluetooth, drone-drop or unmanned vehicle transponderprotocols, Internet of Things (IoT) protocols, and/or other signals andconnectivity as connected to systems contained on-board and/or networkedto or through it remotely.

The locker may be outfitted and configured to be used to providewireless signal strengthening as a WIFI booster through a booster deviceor as a repeater or connection and/or relay point in an array of 4G, 5Gor other similar protocol relay points embedded in electronics housing19 or elsewhere placed using antenna 16 and, further, through itson-board electrical communication and power components 19 and wirelessconnectivity in, to and through electronics housing or sleeve 19 throughconnectivity to antenna 16's capabilities providing a relayed WIFI boostto strengthen the signal strength and connectivity between the deviceand remote wireless signal generators (such as modem-routers and othertypes of routers in nearby areas serving the setting) and to strengthensignals to other nearby wireless devices which may be connected to andthrough the wireless signal(s) that the appliance is wirelesslyconnected to as a convenience to its user and to more fully complete anarray of connection points as are used in 5G.

Wiring harnesses 17 may be used in electrically connecting appliances,batteries, devices, computers, lighting and other equipment throughoutthe entirety of the container locker. Locking system 18 may beelectronic, mechanical, and/or magnetic and may be used in securing thecontents of the container locker to prevent unauthorized access to itemsin the cavities. It may be interconnected with other systems containedon-board and/or networked to or through it remotely.

Speakers 19B may be exterior speakers installed in the outer walls oradhered thereto. These speakers may be integrated with on-board systemsto be used in communication, security and convenience functions andoperations to provide audible voice, tones, music and other broadcastedsounds for a variety of functions and operations for security purposesand or the user's enjoyment. Wiring harnesses 20 may be used inelectrically connecting appliances, batteries, devices, computers,lighting and other equipment throughout the entirety of the containerlocker. Battery-well hatch 20A may provide a locking hatch and a pointof access to on-board batteries.

LED exterior lighting 20B may be located at or near the top of thecontainer locker for use in security alerting and/or providing ambientlighting proximate the container locker. Exterior LED alarm flashers 20Cmay be provided around the base of the container locker approximately 1′above ground level wrapping the container locker's base with exteriorlyvisible emergency lighting flasher lights, typically red in color, thatmay blink or flash when the container locker is in an alarmed status.This may be used to create ambient light or to flash to indicate to theuser and others that the container locker has been breached and/or isotherwise compromised or at risk relative to programmed securitymeasures.

FIG. 2 depicts a side perspective view of a container locker accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure. As depicted herein, lid/top1 may be opened or retracted to clear (open-up) the entirety for the useof manned or unmanned access to the container locker, particularlycavity 5. Lid/top 1 may be constructed of a hard plastic or otherimpenetrable material. It may either be physically opened by a person orit may operate as an automated tip-lid or slide-lid main orificehatch-cover for cavity 5 that is interactive with and interconnectedwith on-board systems, devices and appliances to perform opening,closing, unlocking, and locking functions for manned and unmanneddeliveries or retrievals using computers and on-board motors, gears,sprockets and the like to open, close and lock.

Other parts of the container locker also may be accessed in this mannerincluding, but not limited to, prescription pocket 27. Prescriptionpocket 27 may be accessed through an independent locking hatch in someembodiments of the present disclosure, but it also may be accessedthrough cavity 5, though with independent locking, security, and/oraccess points, doors, hatches, or other means. There may be otherembodiments of the present disclosure where prescription pocket 27 mayremain separate from other areas/cavities of the container locker toprovide additional security for those medicines, drugs, or othersensitive deliveries or pickups to be made, such as legal documents,jewelry, or other small expensive, important, confidential,delivery-regulated, and/or climate-controlled items. In suchembodiments, prescription pocket 27 may include separate locking andunlocking systems and means of digital, electronic and/or mechanicalkeyed or coded access independent of those used to provide access tocavity 5, but which may use on-board equipment and systems, including,but not limited to the computers, systems and other digital securitymeans to remain independently accessed as a separate secured location orspace for controlled or regulated deliveries.

One or more axles 21 may be fixed in location and used to mount rotatingwheels and/or gears and secure the wheels or gears to specific locationsrelative to other wheels or gears. In an autonomous mobility function,axles 21 may be used in driving or relocating the container locker andcan be connected through gears, sprockets or chains, to on-boardelectrical motor 3. Opening 22 may provide a 270° opening for lid 1 topermit a wide clear opening of lid 1 to remove it from obstructing theloading orifice when placing items into cavity 5 and/or removing itemstherefrom, being particularly important in deliveries or retrievalsusing unmanned aerial vehicles or other robotic machinery. Battery well27 may provide a compartment to hold and secure a variety of on-boardbatteries. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, 12 v DC batteriesmay be housed in well 27 and may be readily accessible through thebattery-well hatch 20A, which can be locked and unlocked with a key orother means.

The container locker may employ one or more cameras 15, 28 that may beappropriately placed or located inside of or outside of the locker forthe successful operation of it. One or more interior cameras 28 may beprovided, typically 1080p with night-vision and flash modes, which maybe coupled with or otherwise connected to lighting or flashingmechanisms, to take photographs and/or video of the delivered parcel orcontents inside of the container locker. Once a parcel has beendelivered, and the container has been re-closed, camera 28 canphotograph or video the contents of cavity 5, and networked or on-boardcommunication systems and computers can forward photos or video and alitany of other data regarding the delivery or pickup to partiesinterested in the confirmation of such delivery via text, email andother transmission means, allowing for photo-confirmation to interestedparties involved in the delivery or retrieval that that the parcel wasactually handled, was verifiably secured in the container or wasretrieved successfully. The cameras may be integrated with the onboardand wirelessly or hard-wire connected system(s), motion, tilt and othersensors 9 and 19, and other external systems to provide a visualphotographic or video aspects of security for viewing externally andinternally and which may be employed for, among several other things,use in integrated or on-board security system(s), visually confirming(photographing or videotaping) the person or persons, UAV 31 or othermanned or unmanned vehicles, the viewing of areas surrounding and/orinside of cavities 5, 8 and/or 9 and prescription pocket 27A, while theyare accessing or after they have accessed the them, as the task ofentering it is physically performed, and for visually confirming thedelivery (or pickup) of items placed in the locker by photographing orvideotaping or otherwise recording the presence or absence of an item oritems the delivery task or pickup task has been performed and “after”the locker has been opened, closed and re-locked. These visualconfirmations may be stored, transmitted and/or otherwise communicatedones email or cellular phone text and the like through the connectedsystem(s) used in the operation of the locker to parties interested inthe delivery or pickup before, during and after the task occurs and canprovide a multitude of recordation, security and other utility to theusers thereof. The photographs and/or video may provide a time/datestamped evidence that a delivery or pickup task has been performed.Cameras and/or lenses 28 may capture digital video and/or photographicpictures of specific interior or exterior areas of the locker. Suchcameras 28, lenses or photographic equipment accoutrements may beinstalled in the sidewall, lid or bottom (in or under the suspendedfloor or in the electronics well(s) below same) and facing inwardly oroutwardly to provide the users of the locker with the ability to seewhat is contained in the locker without having to open it physically todo so and would also be able to provide photo or video shots of peopledelivering and operating the locker using motion sensors 19, and orother means and what is (or was) occurring or happening outside of thelocker at a specific time and on a specific date relative to where thelocker is situated. When photographing or videotaping interior areas ofcavities 5, 8 or 9, camera 28 and its integrated computers and/orelectronic drivers may photograph or video the inside area(s) of thecavity(ies) of the locker and communicate or otherwise transmit thephotographic data through its integrated systems wirelessly or throughhard-wired means to the owner or other parties engaged in the deliveryor pickup to provide visual evidence of the task as performed and theconfirmation of the completion of the delivery or pickup once performedand the locker is re-sealed and secured.

Photographing or videotaping the inside of the locker with internalcameras 28 may be a means through which a deliverer of goods to thelocker can verify that the good was actually deposited into the locker,that the locker was properly closed and locked, and that the contentsare awaiting retrieval from the intended recipient of same. This featurecan digitally communicate to all interested parties a photographicverifiability to the item's seller, the delivery personnel and theintended recipient alike. The feature may provide visual confirmationthat the delivery process has been, in fact, verifiably completed.

In yet other embodiments, one or more cameras 15 and 28, lenses or otherinstalled video equipment and which may be coupled with lighting orflashing stroboscopic-type lighting conducive to photographing or videorecording in a dark interior or exterior spaces, may provide, transmitand/or otherwise communicate digital video and photograph informationrelated to areas outside or external to the interior of the locker andproximate various distances from its then current location wheresituated for security and a variety of other purposes. To those familiarwith the art and similar to technologies used in their doorbells, andareas around their homes or offices, fish-eye and other forms of lenses,cameras and photography in general have advanced and continue todevelop, all of which may be included in the system on-board the lockerand which may be deployed or employed to, resultantly, provideadditional utility to the users when networked with other systems and oras a stand-alone servant in those endeavors. In such case where thesystem(s) are integrated with local or, even off-site security systems,onboard cameras 15, 28 and other photographic and video-taking andrecording capabilities through its on-board or networked computers 19,may also be used as configured with such other system(s) to serve indelivering marginal, modular and portable aspects to the general visualsecurity of a place, space or area proximate the device and its camerasand may extend the efficacy of nearby security systems proximate thelocker's systems and devices as they are connected a wirelessly orhardwired to record and transmit data and also lend a verifiablecomputer-aided additional means of date-stamp memorializing (orotherwise providing) video or photograph evidence of activitiesoccurring in and/or around such places, spaces or areas proximate theapparatus' current location as an interconnected video sub-componentthereof.

FIG. 3 depicts a rear view of a container locker according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. As depicted herein, there may bedevices and/or components that may be used in or for (i) collectingsolar energy through solar collector 30 mounted facing upwardly on thetop of top lid 1 to operate or charge on-board batteries, (ii) operatingand housing the gears, sprocketing or chains used operation of openingand closing and securing cavity 5, (iii) the provision of retractablewiring and connecting to exterior electricity sources or other sourcestherethrough 23, 24, (iv) retractable tether 25 for securing of theapparatus to an immovable object for security purposes, (v) flashinglighting 20C to provide visual signalization to people and authoritiesthat the container locker security has been breached, moved from itsintended location, or is otherwise is otherwise unsecured, (vi)providing access points or connections to other features, power sourcesor useful systems, (vii) audible horns, buzzers or piezo styled securitysystem warning alarms 25B, and/or (viii) tethering or mounting hooks topermanently anchor or dock the container locker in a permanent orsemi-permanent location.

Solar energy collector 30 may be situated on top of lid 1 where itsefficacy can be enhanced in the sunlight. Solar thermal collector 30 maycollect heat by absorbing sunlight and convert this energy intoelectricity through on-board systems to charge on-board batteries,operate the container locker and/or to charge other connected devices.Solar collector 30 may energize, operate the apparatus and/or totrickle-charge on-board battery 19, batteries 27, or to gather and storeor supply power to parts of the entirety of the locker in the absence of120 v 60 Hz house current or other main house voltage (as configured) oron-board battery 27 power availability and the power system may bedesigned to use the solar collectors to charge, or otherwise tricklecharge, other devices connected to the device itself. In some events andcertain configurations where access to a regular electricity source isabsent or desired not to be used at all, solar collector 30 may be thesole source of power used to operate different parts of the operativefunctions of the locker.

Ancillary duplex outlet plug or jumper plug 23 may be provided as alocal source of electrical or solar power as a convenience to the userif the container locker is connected to 60 Hz 120 v AC house current.Plug 23 also may connect through on-board batteries 27 to other devicesand may be used as an electrical source to provide electrical current toother appliances or tools as a jumper through its connectivity to mainspower through power cord(s) 24, to provide the relay of power to andthrough its onboard duplex outlets or plugs 23 on its exterior surfaces.Retractable power cord or cord reel 24 may connect the container lockerto house power to connect it to a power source, typically 60 Hz 120 v AChouse current. This power cord, in some embodiments may beself-retractable, like that used in many home appliances. Regardlesswhether the cord is retractable or not, it may provide between 8′ and15′ of cord for the convenience of the user. Retractable security tether25 may connect the container locker to an immovable object, such as apost, a house, or other anchored item, to secure it in place and preventtheft of the container locker. This security tether 25 in someembodiments may be self-retractable, but regardless whether the cord isretractable or not, it may provide between 8′ and 15′ of cord for theconvenience of the user. Knock-out panel 26 may be provided in thecontainer locker. It may provide a perforated or other similar area suchthat it may be readily removed, such as by punching, hammering, orcutting, to provide an opening into the interior to be used for accessor use of other devices or appliances which might increase utility tothe user.

FIG. 4 depicts an indentation on cavity 5 of the container locker ofFIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Thisindentation may be fitted with one or more handles to lift the entirecontainer. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, this area maybe modified to provide a mechanism to mount, store, or otherwise utilizeother systems or components. This area also may be covered with a platethat may enclose the area and may create an interstitial area whereinmany of the sensitive electronics, computers and the like may be housedwhere they are well-protected from environmental elements such as rainand wind. The electronic components housed herein may be enclosed in amodular retractable secured and durable enclosure made to slide intoand/or out of the space or which may be constructed with a liftablecover flap (flap 14, FIGS. 1 and 2) to allow for the installation,removal and/or replacement of the computer and electronics package tomodularly be addressed in manufacturing and in repairs needed in thefield. While FIG. 4 (as well as FIGS. 19 and 19B) depict a shape of theindentation, it should be appreciated that other shapes and through-holepenetrations though the electronics protective sleeve may be providedwithout departing from the present disclosure. If an electronicsprotective sleeve is not used, this area may be used to directly mountother systems or components of the container locker. In otherembodiments of the present disclosure, the systems or components may behoused in other areas of the container locker. Connections from deviceshoused in space 19 to other parts of the systems operating in thecontainer locker may exit the sleeve or areas where situated throughthrough-holes 19A or other engineered or designed through-holes drilledthrough the sleeve and/or the sidewalls to allow wiring to connect toother devices, appliances, wiring harnesses 13, 17, 20, and other wiresor harnesses or internal wiring connections. Accordingly, repairs may bemade by isolating certain electronic devices enclosed therein.

Modular electronics housing sleeve or installation/mounting area 19 maybe used for the modular electronics housing sleeve insertion and holdingor electronics installation and mounting area and/or interstitial areafor the mounting of electronics, components and other operative devices.Sleeve/area 19 may support one or more of the systems used in theoperation and functions of the container locker, including, but notlimited to, one or more single-board computers, and including otherdevices, drivers, components and appliances or portions thereof used insupporting or operating on-board and networked forms and the functionsand operations, among others, related to: communications, GPS or otherpositioning or locational operations, gyroscope operations, weighttabulation and weighing operations and functions, temperaturecontrolling and related cavity cooling or warming equipment operationsand functions, cellular telephone functions and operations, wireless andhardwired networking operations, programming operations, drone orunmanned vehicle communications, operations and functions, locking,unlocking and other security mechanism drivers or equipment and theirfunctions and operations, camera and video functions and operations,lighting functions and operations, notification and status functions andoperation, barcode scanner components functions and operations, or,photo and video drivers or equipment functions and operations, speakerand/or horn or siren and microphone functions and operation, motionsensing, lighting, antenna, solar collector, lid opening and closure,autonomous container motorization, battery, weighing, audible or visualsecurity and other related on-board 4G and 5G repeater relay devices andnetwork connected system actuation, functions and operations. If in themodular embodiment anticipated, sleeve 19 may be inserted into theform-fitted interstitial space designed for it. Quick-connect wiring andconnectivity through-holes 19A may be used for wiring and connectivityto connect electronics in sleeve/area 19 to other parts of the containerlocker where other operative devices, appliances, and systems reside. Ina modular embodiment, sleeve 19 may be quickly disconnected usingthrough-holes 19A, removed, replace and quickly reconnected as aconvenience to service and repair representatives troubleshooting and orfixing broken or non-working aspects of the container locker.

FIG. 5 depicts a view of the sub-floor of cavity 9 of the containerlocker of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.This insert or sub-floor may generally be solid and unibody in form aswell as protective and durable. It may create a generallyuser-inaccessible interstitial space area below it, between it and thecontainer floor and, which simultaneously creates a floor for cavity 8above it.

FIG. 6 depicts a view of the middle layer of cavity 8 of the containerlocker of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.This area's ceiling may serve as a spring loaded or floating floor forcavity 5 above using its springs, netting, or other cushioning materialssuspending it in place which cushions the blow to the contents inparcels as they are dropped into cavity 5 as discussed above.Additionally, this ceiling also may serve as a scale deck working withcollocated digital load cells, mechanical scale equipment, and/orcomputers and electronic devices and systems located either in cavity 8or interconnectedly with other scale parts outside of the cavity thatassist in the tabulation, recording and data transmission related toweighing contents as they are placed into and/or taken out of cavity 5above it.

FIG. 7 depicts interaction between a container locker according to anembodiment of the present disclosure and an unmanned aerial vehicle orsimilar device. The container locker may include automated capabilitiesto interact with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) 31, drone-drop, and/orother machine or mechanized forms of delivery such as but not limited toa delivery robot or other autonomous vehicles, in the process ofreceiving into or sending out parcel 32 from the container locker. TheUAV or drone may be programmed to work directly with the containerlocker and may be sold as an ancillary or acoutremental additional partand be housed (or docked) with the container locker or the UAV may beowned and operated by others and be programmed to communicate andinterface with a container locker. In both events, the container lockercan communicate with the UAV to make deliveries into the containerlocker or to send back out return items to their origin.

UAV 31 may deliver or pick up parcel 32 to provide an automated, safe,secured drop zone or place for UAV 31 to drop its delivery cargoregardless the presence of people involved in the delivery. Other formsof robotic delivery means and modes can likewise connect with,communicate with and utilize the container locker to perform deliveryand retrieval functions and operations if so configured and/orprogrammed to do so. As used herein, parcel 32 may be a package, box,bag or other item that is delivered to or retrieved from the containerautonomously or with the aid of people using manned or unmanned means ofaccomplishing those delivery or retrieval tasks.

In UAV deliveries, the on-board computers and integrated communication,GPS and other systems of the container locker may engage the UAV'swireless signals or vice-versa when in range of each other and willwirelessly sync communicatively with each other to position the UAV andready the container locker for access. As the delivery vehicle and thecontainer locker connect wirelessly through their on-board systems, theon-board system of the container locker may direct the unlocking of lid1 using its integrated circuits in magnetic locking system 18, and mayopen lid 1 using electrical motor(s) 3 and hatch opening gear 2retrieval or placement of the good. Once UAV 31 is centered in anappropriate drop position hovering over the top of the container locker,using wireless communication systems 19, GPS 19, cameras 28 (and othercameras) as interconnected with UAV 31's on-board communication, GPS andcamera systems, UAV 31 may maneuver and drop parcel 32 into cavity 5 ofthe locker. As this is occurring and after parcel 32 has landed incavity 5, data will be exchanged wirelessly between UAV 31 and thelocker's on-board systems 19 or others and some data will be transmittedto parties interested in the delivery or retrieval via their on-boardsystems or other remote systems interfaced with the locker's operation.Once UAV 31 or other unmanned delivery vehicle is hovering, or otherwisesituated in physically proper place nearby and within communicationsrange to make the delivery or to retrieve contents in/from the containerlocker, UAV 31 and the container locker may communicate with each otherwirelessly and transmit several different forms of information betweeneach other using their independent on-board computers, electronics,protocols and software signals. Data communicated and exchanged mayinclude, but is not limited to, (i) the confirmations of GPS locationsand addresses used in the order placement, (ii) confirmations regardingthe order be delivered or retrieved, (iii) the granting of permission toaccess the container locker, (iv) the willingness to access thecontainer locker to drop or retrieve a parcel by UAV 31, (v) the weightof the parcel being delivered or retrieved, and, (vi) various otherinformation relative to and important to the payload exchange.

Generally speaking, the wider and less obstructed the opening is fordelivery into a container at its top, especially when a parcel is beingdelivered by a UAV 31 drone-drop type system or other type aerialvehicle, the more likely a successful drop will be able to be made by adrone or other automated delivery mechanism. Hovering as close to theactual drop site is important to the drone as it lowers to place (ordrop) its delivery into the locker. This capability to provide this typeof totally open orifice for loading and unloading packages lends itselfto many of the types of roll-out trash container and other containmentsystems types of designs and products in use today throughout the worldand those familiar with the industry plastics manufacturing wouldrecognize the ease with which same can be acquired or made with specificpurposes in mind.

As discussed herein, the container locker may use GPS technologies toassist in determining its whereabouts at any given point of time. GPSmay include a single GPS receiver or transceiver 16 and 19 that receivessignals transmitted by GPS satellites encircling the earth in low-earthand other varied earth-orbit altitudes and transmits data to locationfinding servers or receivers to triangulate its position. Receiver 16 asprocessed through 19, may be in constant communication with a network ofthese GPS satellites and can relay, wirelessly or otherwise to its userthrough the system. Based on the GPS satellite's transmitted signals,the receiver may determine its own position and, resultantly, the userof the GPS unit can determine its position with a nominal margin forerror of its exact location anywhere in the world for delivery andretrieval personnel and apparatus to isolate its location for use. Thecontainer locker may be configured with, outfitted with equipment andsoftware for and interact with alternative types of GPS systems 19,wherein the GPS system may provide the ability to monitor and track oneor more remote units in one or more central location(s) and where theymay also be used to collect, remotely store, transmit and/or analyze thedata from the central location(s) and where the locker uses GPS data, aswell as other types of data, to ascertain the current, as well as pastlocations of the remote units may be used as well in locating thecontainer locker and in verifying the current address or location of thecontainer locker at any given point in time. In alternative embodiments,the GPS locational system and/or other onboard systems may also beextended for use in other location-determining applications wherein itmay use a honing geo-locator device operating through 19 and fixed at aspecific location to determine the proximity (distance) that thecontainer locker is situated to it relative to that fixed or givendesignated location and the physical location of the container locker atthe present time. As an added benefit to the user, in the absence of abroader GPS integration, the device may have a wireless or hard-wiredmodule which contains receiver or transceiver that emits a signal whichis fixed at a user-determined location that pings a signal to thecontainer locker and an onboard receiver/transceiver which reads and/orprocesses such signal to geo-locate the container locker, relative tothe fixed point of the signal's origin. Other on-board or remotecomputer systems and software may process the data transmitted betweenthe two devices to determine and express via wireless or othercommunication to the user physically where the container locker is thensituated relative to the signal being sent by an onboard containerlocker embedded transceiver, identifying and communicating itslocational aspects.

Users may be provided a means to capture, store and transmit data withthe specific locational information where acts involving the locker haveoccurred and delivery retrieval personnel or UAV drone can perform thetask with the locker serving as the party's depository. Embodiments ofthe present disclosure may allow one to document the actual time, weightand locational aspect of where a delivery or retrieval (pickup) hasoccurred through use of on-board GPS systems 16, 19. Confirming thespecific location is especially important when verified throughcomputers 19 and scanners and ability to connect to scanners through USBPorts 14A, 16 and 19 or other interconnected means. When scanning, thesystems and appended device connectivity may provide the ability toconfirm that a package with a specific UPC label, as scanned, wasactually at the location of the container locker at a specific time andphysically situated at a specific location, that when it entered or leftcavity 5 and was weighed (or otherwise its absence weight-wise wastallied) that it weighed a specific amount and that the other data,photographically and otherwise verifiable through measurement by thecontainer locker systems, can justifiably document that a delivery orretrieval or other action did occur at the recorded specific place andtime and verified by the weight placed into or taken out of thecontainer as documented by the transmission. Tracking may be providedthrough GPS means, tracking module and/or GPS locational software run onlocal computer 19 and systems integrated therewith that will not onlyallow the owner/user to verify the locker's location through itsaccompanying smartphone or computer 19 digital software application (viathe use of an App (software application specifically designed tointerface with the locker), but which will also deter would-be thievesfrom attempting to relocate the locker and its contents from theintended location chosen by the owner/user. Should the locker be removedbeyond a certain distance, anticipating 3′ or +/−1 yard in distancebeing the anticipated “ground-zero mark for the container as placed bythe user, from its intended location as set by its owner/user, theembodiments with this feature may also have a security-redundanthigh-decibel audible alarm and or flashing lights 20C that becometriggered to indicate to others that might hear such alarm that thelocker is being removed (and perhaps stolen) from its intended placementlocation. In addition to the flashing lights on the side of the locker'sexterior, other operational lights and or sirens, horn or alarms mayalso be activated in such a case. These features, if integrated with theuser/owner's other security system(s), may also integrate with andtrigger other alarms, lights, cameras computer systems and systems toalert the authorities that the appliance is being tampered with, hasbeen tampered with and or at minimum, is in jeopardy of being brokeninto, breached, stolen, or is being stolen. If a thief cuts the securitytether with a pair of bolt cutters and steals the entire locker andthrows it into the back of a truck or van in order to steal the contentsof the locker that he/she may have seen placed therein, thepiezo-electric sounder, once removed from its user registered GPSlocation at 100 decibels or louder.

In some embodiments, the container locker may be outfitted and itssystem integrated with a motion, pressure or other types of sensor(s) orother gyroscopic component(s) designed to recognize an unusual orunanticipated motions, pressures, temperatures and/or movement of thedevice which would be integrated with and operate through computers andinternal systems 19, like, a shaking, jarring or other undesiredphysical control aspect of the locker. Wherein such undesirable activityoccurs, the system may trigger the communications dispatch of data orother information to other onboard parts of the system or computers viaa the system's internal or external integration with those othersystems, devices or apparatus' to broadcast a high-decibel audible alarmof varied types, cameras 15 and 28, sirens 19B and 25B, and lighting 4,20B and 20C and, if integrated externally with the owner user's securitysystem, may trigger one or more external alarm systems to perform theintended function of alert nearby persons to the event and/or to alertor otherwise digitally or wirelessly alert the sheriff, police or lawenforcement authorities, and others that the locker has been materiallytampered with, moved or is currently moving (as in a truck or van whenstolen), knocked around or materially bumped as it would in the event ofa thief or thieves might be attempting to carry it to a vehicle and awayfrom its user/owner's intended placement location. In addition toalerting nearby persons that can hear the alarm sounds, and the policeto this, the system 19 may also be configured to alert or otherwisenotify the user/owner of the device wirelessly through connectivity tothe internet, IoT connectivity to other devices, the accompanyingsmartphone computer or smart pad App and other communication systemsthat the locker is, or may be, was or is at risk in some way.

When applicable, a container locker according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure may use a wirelessly or hard-wired, attached orbuilt-in cameras 14, 15 and 28 or another similar configured connectedor portable device attached through USB connectivity portal 14A as anon-board scanner device detection to either to scan the parcel, package,item or ticket that follows the order from its origin to the container(or, in the event of a return (i.e., a retrieval) a receipt and/or otherticket verifying, pursuant to the agreement between purveyor andpurchaser, that the items are callable for return. Wirelessly up-linkingthe scanner through the locker's onboard computer 14 and 19 allows thesender to be provided video and/or photographs of the personnel engagedin the process of delivering a parcel(s) and confirm the safere-securing of the locker after specific data on the parcel beingdelivered is read by a scanning device, such as a camera or otherscanner and the unit is resealed and secured. The scanning apparatusused in conjunction with its wireless integration with computer system19 and software designed for same which would drive it, may be used toscan the UPC label of the package(s) delivered in lieu of additionallyentering a security code through comm-center 14, to electronicallyrelease the locker's locking mechanisms which would otherwise preventunforced access to the delivery or pickup cavity area or area(s) 5 and27. Embodiments may use a proprietary software and/or may use a vendor'sspecified or open-source software interface to communicate and receiveand/or transmit information regarding the parcel, package item or ticketrelated thereto to interested parties to the contract of saletransaction related to the specific item(s) and the related delivery orpickup service which also may include configuration with one or morecameras 15 and 28, other on-board or portable handheld scanners throughUSB connection 14A, wireless or hard-wired receivers, transmitters ortransceivers and/or other components housed in or on the locker toconfirm or maintain security in the delivery or retrieval task and toprovide for the confirmation and/or digital proof to the interestedparties that the required delivery or retrieval task was, indeed,completed or performed.

The container locker may be hard-wired connected to a network throughits USB and Ethernet Connectivity Port 14A, and/or may be wirelesslyconnected to a network through its electronic computer 19 and/or otheron-board antennas 16, transmitters, or receivers (transceiver(s))component(s) and computers 19, its USB or Ethernet Connectivity Port14A, and may connect through such wireless syncing directly, throughcellular protocol, through Bluetooth 19 and 16, cellular or similarconnection, or through other means or protocols used in digitallyconnecting communication and other devices. Communications may takeplace wirelessly through digital wireless protocol connectivity to auser's home or office wireless network to integrate it with otherdigitally operated communication systems. Functions being performed inreceiving deliveries and pickups from delivery services manually or inunmanned means may automatically trigger messaging, photographing andother data collection, transmission and recording to be sent tointerested parties in order to alert and or confirm to them that thedelivery or retrieval has occurred, that the locker is secured again andor to send visual or other records to confirm that the delivery orretrieval task was completed at a specific time date and, in some cases,that a specific weight tabulated and recorded through on-board load-celland scale assembly 8 and through computer software and system 19 hasbeen placed into or taken out of the locker once completed. On-boardcommunication systems 19 and 16 may use varied text, cellular, wirelesslinking to email, and a multitude of other forms of digitalcommunication, as configured, to provide information to the deliverer,the sender of the parcel (purveyor), the recipient and other interestedparties to verify and ensure the interested parties with data thatconfirms when a delivery is about to occur, is occurring and/or hasoccurred providing, depending on the needs of the parties includingtransmission of a variety of information to all related parties of theseevents and other information or data as set forth in the agreement(s)between the parties for such delivery.

A set of electronic contacts may be included at an accessible positionon the lock housing to allow both master access and power jumping with acommon manager's implement, for situations of lost codes and/or battery27 failure. In particular, lid 1 lock may be long, narrow and low inprofile so as to fit into the predesigned spaces set out in the locker'sdesign to contain locking mechanisms 18, wiring and necessaryoperational hardware throughout the locker. Similar to USB ports in acomputer, like a laptop or desktop computer, the electronics contact hubof one or more USB connection ports 14A may be situated in a conspicuouseasily reachable location on or near communication-center keypad anddisplay screen 14 which may be used for a wide variety of purposes suchas, but not limited to, computer/wirelessly jumping for the repair,re-coding and the re-boot of systems through software interface andconnectivity through it, as an external connection port to access thelocker's on-board computers and electronics for additional programming,manipulation and settings manipulation, repair and/or to set upcomputers and peripherals 19, cameras 15 and 28, weighing scales 8 andweighing equipment 8, and other on-board equipment, computerizedequipment, devices used in the operation of the locker or otherwiseconnected to it, to charge other devices connected to/through it.

Software operating on the locker's computer(s) and or devices may entera recovery mode in the event of a crash and communication-center screen14 may be used in conjunction with another computer or wireless device,like a smartphone, through an App (application) to re-set the on-boardcomputers and systems that are either wirelessly or hard-wire connected.

Scans and or the scanning of the parcel's UPC label may also beaccomplished through an encrypted wireless signal to the partiesinterested in the parcels' delivery confirmation. This device and systemmay use the internet, cellular, texting, and/or other IoT connectedmeans to deliver the information in order to verify the safe completionof the delivery of a parcel(s) to a specific location at a specifictime. The system and method may transmit or receive a timing date-stampand other useful data, including, but not limited to, photographs andvideo of the delivery event itself and can also, through a transmittedscan of the parcel's UPC labels or other types of labeling on thepackage surfaces or otherwise accompanying the parcel, can confirmdelivery of the parcel or item to the recipient back to the senderthereof and/or to others specified in order to confirm that the deliveryhas occurred at the prescribed location at a particular time. Thisparticular form of confirmation is important to the sender of the parcelto not only provide access to an area otherwise inaccessible, but alsoto confirm that delivery or a retrieval were, indeed, made, and theprecise time of delivery or retrieval. It is also particularly importantto the recipient or others interested in the process to become awarethat the delivery or pickup of his/her parcel has verifiably occurred,and photographs of the parcel in the locker, the confirmations of theunique UPC and the parcel's weight when delivered may serve to confirmthis. The locker according to embodiments of the present disclosure mayalso have additional efficacies for these processes or ancillary utilityin the general use thereof given its interconnectability with othersystems and its typical intended placement proximate one's home oroffice and interface with and connect to their related wireless orhard-wire connected systems.

As depicted in FIG. 8, a multitude of alternative shapes, sizes,materials, and other features may be included as part of the containerlocker according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Exterior 29may be stainless steel but may be constructed from other similarmaterials without departing from the present disclosure. The containerlocker may be dipped, coated, extruded, molded, roto-molded, welded, orotherwise assembled or put together using a myriad of types of materialsthat would logically lend themselves to and be suitable for suchconstruction. Materials may include plastic (FIGS. 1-3), metals such asstainless steel or copper (FIG. 7), or combinations thereof. Impact andcorrosion resistant materials including, but not limited to, highdensity High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP), PolyvinylChloride (PVC), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), PolyethyleneTerephthalate (PETE or PET), Polystyrene or Styrofoam (PS) and/or othermiscellaneous plastics (such as: polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic,acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene, fiberglass, and nylon and others)plastics may be used and be reinforced at stress points for durability,and may include a hinged or sliding, tight fitting locking lid(s) andhandles to protect and secure items placed inside, and would easily betilted backwardly and rolled to provide mobility and portability using abuilt in grip handle and a multitude of various types of axle-mountedwheels 7, 21, which may be 7½″ to 12″ diameter.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the container locker maybe fixed in a specific location, such as a segregated and secured areaof a residential subdivision, on a rooftop, on a floor of a buildinginterior or a combination thereof, either independently or in an arrayof multiple container lockers. The term for this type of facility iscoined as a DronePort™ and/or a DronePort Terminal™. In this arrangementand configuration, several or many container lockers, often having avariety of different features, may be arranged open to the sky above, ingroups, side-by-side and in segmented rows in a secured and gatedexterior area. Interior locations also can be provided wherein multiplelocker containers can be situated in a centralized area where deliverypersonnel and users, alike can access them. When communally nestledtogether in one area, the container lockers can be specifically designedas an on-site facility near groups of users that would access them. The“DronePort™” may serve as a central nearby location established to beaccessed by a group of users, delivery people and machines. In thiscommunal configuration, like a residential subdivision, this smallsecurity-gated area houses multiple devices in one central locationwhere drone deliveries and or manned deliveries, alike, can easily bedropped and securely stored until the user desires to retrieve them.This also permits purveyors of goods making deliveries to go to “one”central defined drop location for deliveries to the area, saving themmillions in fuel, wear and tear on their equipment (and their drivers)and, most importantly, prevents deliveries from sitting on one's porchor doorstep all day tempting Porch-Pirates while the homeowner is away.This may be installed as part of a subdivision or commercial property asit only needs a small section of land or interior space in the commonareas of the subdivision, building or area serving the users andestimated area sizes range from a few hundred square feet for a smallproject to several thousand square feet for large numbers of usersdepending on the number of users and can serve in residential, office,retail, industrial and other types of communities of, both, residentialand commercial locations and applications.

FIG. 9 depicts a layout of a scalable facility according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, an 80-unitDronePort terminal may be provided to serve a residential subdivisionand may be situated in common areas of the subdivision allowingdeliveries and pick-ups to be made at a central location. Dronedeliveries and/or manned deliveries may be accommodated, and users caneasily use the facility and their individual units to securely storereturning items for manned or unmanned delivery personnel to retrievethem. While a specified number of units are provided in FIG. 9, itshould be appreciated that more or fewer units may be provided withoutdeparting from the present disclosure. These units may be arranged inrows and/or groups (segments) in embodiments of the present disclosure.The rows and/or segments may be common linear groupings to permit easypedestrian maneuvering. Typically, approximately 10 units in a row mayprovide a segment. It should be appreciated that the units may beprovided in different sizes as some packages may be too large forplacement into the typically sized container locker or a containerlocker may from time to time be out of service. In these cases,oversized lockers may be provided at various logical locations inside ofthe controlled areas of the DronePort so that delivery personnel canstill make deliveries to people whose locker cannot accommodatereceiving a larger package or where their locker is out of service.Parcels or items delivered to an auxiliary overflow locker unit can orwould typically be used on a temporary basis and can communicate thatsuch has been made to an alternative locker and location through theexisting communication systems.

The DronePort may include a concrete floor area or other hard surfacematerial (like macadam or black-top) generally used in the out-of-doorspoured and finished over the pre-designed under-slab electronic,communications, drainage systems lines and other items typically laidthereunder. Typically, power and communication lines, as well asdrainage and other items needed for the operation of the DronePort canbe installed in conduit chases underneath the slab. These conduits canbe used to run or pull wires from mains power sources such as anelectrical panel, communication hubs, such as a router or otheraccess-controllers and other controller panels like security, lightingand the like. These lines would typically be stubbed up at theappropriate location to be extended out of the slab, into the operativedevice and used to connect and operate individual container lockers,security and access control systems, lighting, and other needs of thefacility. Each individual container locker may be connected to powersources, other communications panels and/or other integrated systemsprotruding through the slab at the bottom of the location where it maybe permanently affixed to its location using bolts and or other means tocause it to be irremovable. Security cameras may be provided throughoutthe DronePort to provide security to its users, record happenings in thespace and to permit those contemplating entering the area the ability tosee at the control panel who may or may not already be in the securedarea making it easy, safer and/or more comfortable for users to gaugewhether or not they care to enter the secured area at the time. Thisalso may allow security personnel and/or law enforcement to check theinside area(s) from the visual access control panel outside of the areawithout entering same. Camera footage may be recorded for future use inthe effort to promote security and safety for users. A security fencemay surround the edges of the concrete floor. It may be 8′ high ortaller chain linked fencing construction with cantilevered aperturesextended from the top thereof to prevent intruders from being able toscale the fence and enter the secured area. Dusk-to-dawn ormotion-sensing lighting fixtures may be provided that may beprogrammable through the on-site security systems and/or automaticallytriggered by light-sensors to provide adequate lighting of the DronePortareas for its users in dark, darkening or nighttime periods of time topromote safety and usability of the space in evening and at night. Theaccess control panel may be a visual panel outside of the secured areawhich may be hard-wired and/or wirelessly connected to a controller andsystem hub to provide the selective restriction of access to theDronePort area(s). As a secured area with a myriad of valuable goods anditems temporarily stored in the container locker units inside,restricting access to user members only is key. This may allow personswith a container locker to gain access to the area that securely housesthe container locker itself and may be indexed by residential address,telephone number and/or myriad other criterion to promote security andsafety of the access to the area and, ultimately, access to theirspecific container. The DronePort may include a securityaccess-controlled gate, door, and/or opening that may be controlledthrough the access control panel. Such gate may be automatically drivenby a chain or other opening/closure mechanism and may be triggered toopen for a limited period of time when the appropriate code is enteredinto the system at the access control panel. To exit the internalDronePort area(s), an electrical system-controlled button and/orpanic-button on the inside of the contained area may be provided to openthe gate for users when they would like to exit the area(s). There maybe a power and electrical panel source that provides power and otherfeeds to the security, lighting, access and other systems requiringelectrical power to effectively operate. This electrical panel can besecured by placing inside “or” outside of the secured area(s) as neededand can be independently secured with fencing or other forms of physicalor placement. This power source location may also house or be in or nearother access, security or other systems serving the DronePort facility.The DronePort facility may include grounds landscaping directly outsideof the security fencing to beautify the DronePort facility and toinhibit intruders from climbing the fence as added security.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may deter and/or decreasedishonest delivery personnel. Using cameras, especially internal camera28 of cavity 5, the parcel may be weighed with on-board scale system 8when it is placed into the container locker with scale system 8 andconfirming and/or tabulating other data regarding time via on-boardcomputers 19, date and information of other importance to the task ofdelivering or retrieving. Through the use of its on-board load-cell andweighing system 8, the container locker according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure may scan, tabulate, communicate and confirm to thedelivery-interested parties through the system's communication meansprovided through the use of the array of parts to insure that, amongother verification data, the weight of the parcel when weighed at itsoutbound origin is the same as it weight tabulated at its destinationwhen it is received. This may provide a concise and completeconfirmation that what left the warehouse was actually delivered whichis not yet widely used and herein is able to create, yet, another levelof accountability through this weighing. Further, using the weight of aparcel, when weighed at both origin and destination, may allow for theavoidance of tampering with packages, parcels, bags and items intransport and/or prevent the theft of one or more items that may beenshipped together in the same package, parcel or bag. This may avoiddelivery piracy and may be tremendously useful in deterring the deliverypersonnel from even beginning to believe that he/she can steal any partof a parcel while in transit and can serve as a material stop-check formerchants, purveyors, customers and delivery service enterprises, alike;one that will be welcomed by corporate accountability and theftprevention staffs as it becomes deployed.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also confirm for the merchant,purveyor or distributor who sent the parcel by accounting for the weightof the parcel when it left their facility is either the same ordifferent when it has reached its intended destination. With an urbandelivery driver making 160-200 stops per day and delivering an averageof 200-300 pieces to location along their route, there is a lot of roomfor error and, for some, much temptation to sneak a little something forhim/herself along the way. Using the container locker according toembodiments of the present disclosure, if a 5 lb. parcel with 4 items init left the distributor's dock as a 5.0 lb. parcel, it should weigh thesame amount (i.e. 5.0 lbs.) when it reaches its intended destination. Ifit reaches the container locker and is measured at 3.7 pounds, allparties can immediately recognize that something is awry and that theparcel was lightened by 1.3 lbs. Accordingly, it may be possible to morequickly be able to identify what item(s) had left the dock in any givenbox or bag, but which had not actually reached the intended recipientswhen placed in the container locker and weighed. Further, embodiments ofthe present disclosure may tabulate, communicate, and confirm that aparcel, package, bag or item of a specific weight associated with suchparcel, has actually been placed into the intended recipient's containerlocker for delivery while also confirming the UPC label associated withthe parcel to double-check that its weight is actually what left thewarehouse when initially weighed and labeled. Moreover, a photograph orvideo of the delivered parcel may be taken with external fish-eye camera15. After the package is secured and the system has closed lid 1 and thecontents are secure in cavity 5, internal camera 28 can again photographthe delivery or the absence of the item taken for return and may forwardsuch photographs to the parties interested in the confirmation of suchdelivery. Embodiments of the present disclosure can confirm in severalways, for all parties involved, that the parcel leaving the DC(distribution center) weighing a specific amount and due on a specificday was actually delivered and placed into a verifiably securedlocation.

At initial set-up, the user (owner or operator) of the locker mayprogram the computer electronics to recognize one or more personalizedidentification means, such as, but limited to, voice recognition,punching numbers into a keypad bearing digits, symbols or alphabeticalletters (hereinafter referred to as a “PIN #”) or other numeric,alphabetical, thumb or fingerprint for biometric identification,unlocking key or other code, iris (eye) or facial recognition oralternative identification code or other alternative security means orprotocol or means wherein such user may, at will, grant access to othersat his/her discretion and pursuant only to his/her permission or thegranting of such rights of access to the locker to others. Someembodiments may use multiple different and/or separate recognitionprotocols for different deliverers, merchants, purveyors and/or purposesin order to provide the specific grant of access based on a certainspecified protocol agreed to between the user/owner and such other partyand where such specific party may have the right of access for aspecific reason or period of time as configured by the grantor of therights of such access to that other party.

The container locker may be connected to, whether wireless or throughhard wire, and integrated with the user's home or office security systemnetwork through the locker's computers 19 and antennas 16 and/or throughsimilar onboard means housed and operated from the locker. In thisintegrated or connected condition, the systems of the container lockermay, through such connectivity of the security system's protocolcomponents, devices and/or design, be considered and extension of theuser's home or commercial security system. In such connectedconfigurations, it may be operated as a node of such system wherein anattempted breach or breach of the locker systemically communicates andnotifies or otherwise alerts the then integrated systems through thesending and reception of data transmissions related to same. In such anevent, the breach or attempted breach may trigger other aspects of both,on-board and other connected security system actions such as, but notlimited to, setting off on-board or remote audible or visual alarms,on-board or remote lights notifying police, security personnel orothers, on-board piezoelectric sounders 25B, speakers 19B or othersounders situated remotely. One familiar with the art would understandthat based on as set forth in the security system's setup, design andadoption by the users thereof, a myriad of possibilities for alarmingand alerting when combining two separate security systems. Those havingskill in the art will also recognize that security systems in thecurrent age have remote wirelessly connected devices that are integratedthereinto and the locker may possess a similar integration, as if itwere merely a seamless addition to such a system in order to have itperform its alarming, notification and other security functions.

The locker's electronic heating and cooling systems and apparatuses maybe housed or extended into cavities 5, 8 and/or 9, regardless the typeemployed, may operate as a self-contained battery powered heating orcooling container and/or may utilize a common 120-volt AC power feed(source) across its low-voltage PCB to operate and to charge otheron-board batteries simultaneously. Other embodiments may also utilize anon-board low-voltage battery or batteries 27 as a back-up power source,such as a common 12-volt rechargeable battery 27 to operate the locker,or, via connectivity to an off-board low-voltage power source system(jumped from another source) like that of a common car or truck battery,like the common and typical battery and system found in a common ortypical automobile, to power its functions normally while connected, andin order to recharge its on-board system(s) or in the event of a powerfailure, a loss of power or a change in the user's ability to accesspower or otherwise where it would be necessary as a back-up or redundantalternative as a power source. Cavity 5 may be capable of providingrefrigeration and/or warming capacity to maintain temperatures in orderto prevent the spoilage of groceries, food, medicines and othertemperature sensitive materials or items.

While the locker may be scaled upwardly and downwardly in size anddimension, in some embodiments, generally, it may measure volumetricallyat approximately 65 gallons, which generally may provide dimensions ofapproximately 28″ (Length)×28″ (Width)×45″ (Height) to create aninterior space in the 65 gallon size range and to provide enough room incavities 5, 8, 9 to perform their multiple intended purposes andfunctions. This size would provide the users with the most flexibilityand benefit while still maintaining critical portability,maneuverability (if in a portable embodiment) and access to the indooror interior spaces of one's home or office through normally ortypically-sized doorways or points of ingress and egress to a structurelike a typical residential home doorway.

The locker according to embodiments of the present disclosure maycommonly be used and stored in one's garage and or in and around one'sdriveway or garage and home front or backyard door area(s). Thusly, suchembodiments also may include both high reflectivity exterior surfaces orareas of such surfaces and embedded glow-in-the-dark features 6 toprovide benefits and utility to both the owner/user of the apparatus anddelivery personnel accessing it in dark hours or settings. As referencedelsewhere herein, as the delivery of parcels, packages, bags and itemsbecome more and more mainstream to the home for any given person orfamily, the hours of such deliveries are anticipated to be extended aswell into nighttime hours wherein a delivery person can navigate theroadways infinitely more expeditiously and free of congestive traffic inmost urban areas today. Given the ability to marginally decreasedrive-times and also to drive out overhead costs for labor and otheraspects of operating delivery services by delivering goods in“off-hours,” night-shift deliveries are anticipated to grow extensivelyand quickly and will become larger and larger parts of the logisticsprocesses for most purveyors whom desire to get goods to their customersquickly with less traffic and timing friction. Thusly, with the use ofthe locker according to embodiments of the present disclosure, nighttimedeliveries may grow as rapidly as needed driving out delivery cost forpurveyors; given the locker's ability to be accessed regardless theintended recipient's absence or presence at the delivery location andits ability to secure deliveries made in a controlled environment untilthe recipient is ready to unload the locker. This means that nighttimedeliveries of items can easily be made, f/b/o the intended recipient andthe delivery personnel or company, with the use of this locker while theowner/occupant slumbers. Dark hour delivery personnel may spot thecontainer locker quickly in dark or darkening settings as they approachthe delivery location with the intention of making a nighttime delivery.

Wheeled trash cans, and other items often clutter a garage and/or adriveway and backing out a car from the garage can quickly destroy thosethings unseen by the driver and verily run over by him/her as they exitthe garage in reverse. The high reflectivity and the glow in the dayfeatures of the rugged outer shell material aids those using the lockerin not damaging same accidentally as it sits in locations often designedfor vehicular traffic in and around the home or small office drivewaysand automobile access areas.

The ability to place logos or names or other branding on the sidewallsand top of the locker are not to be unrecognized. Although notillustrated in the figures, the sides (and or tops) of the locker maybear markings such as corporate names, logos and other messaging forpublic view, not only of the manufacturer thereof, but the purveyors,retailers or other sponsors and users of the locker that might engage insponsorship or other marketing efforts that can plausibly utilize suchan area to enhance or otherwise grow their brand recognition andbranding in general.

Various examples are provided as described below. In a first example,Annette, a resident of a suburban area in Royse City, Tex., purchases a30-pack of her favorite Keurig k-cups coffee online from a major onlinepurveyor of goods. That evening, in a mad rush, her boss orders her tofly out immediately to the companies' Wichita office for business whereshe will need to stay for at least 4 days to address critical issuesthere. In embodiments of the present disclosure, both the purveyor andthe buyer can follow through with the delivery/reception of her newlypurchased coffee into the container locker in her absence with a highlevel of safety and security with verifiable photographic and digitaldata evidence that the delivery was actually completed and deliveredwhile she is away at work and it has been protected in the locker sincedelivery. When this delivery was completed, she received a text and anemail with photographs of the delivered parcel inside her lockedcontainer which was directed through the seller's delivery software andthe connected container locker to confirm and verify that the deliverywas been successfully completed at 2:05 PM on November 11, and that a2.9 lb. package of coffee had been placed in her container locker by D.Sanders, whom she knew to be her usual delivery person. While away, shecan peer into the locker and surrounding areas in her garage to verifyand see that the package was left and that it is secure through use ofher smartphone App as well. Given that Annette is keen to porch piratesoperating in her home's area lately, she did not want her containerlocker on the porch all day after her delivery was documented on hercell phone and computer, so, Annette used her cell phone app to relocatethe container into the garage. The interconnected wireless systemson-board allowed her to open her garage door, drive the container lockerinto her garage and automatically triggered the garage door closed afterrelocating to the predetermined secured space inside her garage. Whenshe returns from Wichita 4 days later, she can retrieve her coffee whichhas been secured in the locker in the garage without being exposed toporch-pirates, the weather, or other detrimental effects of sittingoutside on her porch, and without disruption to her neighbors or othersthat would have had to pick up the parcel when delivered to her doorstepor otherwise received or held the delivery until her return.

In a second example, a new drone-drop delivery service is employed by alocal urban pizza shop in Austin, Tex. to use UAVs to deliver pizzas tocustomers ordering and paying for their pizzas online. Shortly afterplacing his order with this pizza shop one cold winter's night, thecustomer that ordered pizza was called to a neighbor's house for aserious emergency which takes several hours for him to assist in helpingto address. While at his neighbor's house, he can use an app on hissmartphone to set the temperature of the locker to keep his pizza warmedafter delivery in his absence. Accordingly, the man's pizza can not onlybe received by the unmanned drone-drop service automatically, but videoand or photographs of the delivery can be verified along with thetransmission of various other data regarding the delivery to interestedparties, the contents can be warmed while he is gone, and this can allbe accomplished automatically while he is away attending to urgentmatters at another location. When the customer returns from hisneighbor's house, he returns to open the locker to retrieve his warmpizza pie.

In a third example, Michelle, a lady in Lubbock, Tex., orders threeitems online on a summer day from a major online purveyor of goods: aswim floatie for the pool, chlorine tablets for her pool, and a largebottle of sunscreen. The package is ‘picked’ in the purveyor's warehouseand placed in one box sized to contain all three that has a total weightof 3.0 lbs and the parcel's UPC label indicates this total weight. Thefloatie weighs 1.5 lbs. The chlorine tablets weigh 1.0 lb., the bigbottle of sunscreen weighs 0.40 lbs., and the box that contains them allweighs 0.10 lbs. Collectively, all items and the packaging weighs 3.0lbs. including the box containing them. Michelle receives the packagetwo days later only to find that the sunscreen is missing. The box isalso opened at one end. She calls the purveyor to figure out what hashappened. Since the package was delivered to the container locker, thereare records associated with the delivery including time, date and weightof the parcel delivered and who (the person or machine) that deliveredit, including video and or photographs of the delivery taking place, adigital record of the delivery person(s) that accessed the locker duringthe time in question, and the photos of the parcel inside the securedcontainer area after delivery and lock-down of the lid afterward, all ofwhich can assist Michelle and the purveyor sender in assessing what nextsteps should be to make Michelle and her husband happy and to alleviateher husband's propensity to get sunburned when in her pool. In thisexample, the total weight of the parcel, 3.0 lbs., is the most useful.The locker's computer components indicate that only one access was madeinto the cavities leaving only 1 parcel on the day in question, thatparcel “should have weighed” 3.0 lbs., and it was placed in the lockerat the exact same time that digital records indicate that the purveyor'sdeliverer executed his delivery prowess at the locker. However, theparcel indicated on its label that the parcel weighed 3.0 lbs. when itleft the purveyor's distribution center. They can now deduce that thesunscreen was in the box when it left the DC, but for some reason nevermade it to the customer. Had either one of the other items, the floatieor the chlorine tablets, been the missing item, the weight tabulation atthe delivery-end would have similarly identified “it” as what did notreach the customer instead. The purveyor's internal loss preventionspecialists were able to ascertain over a short period of time that itwas more of a specific ‘route’ problem and moreover, was related to thisparticular individual driver, and the chronic complaints of recipientssituated on his typical delivery routes. This gave the purveyor thecomfort to investigate the pilferage matter and immediately dispatch areplacement bottle of sunscreen to Michelle. Needless to say, theinformation validated and gathered through the locker made it easy toidentify the culprit with verifiable proof and to address the driver'sbehavior as a result. The driver was terminated “with cause” as a resultclearing the purveyor and navigating the delivery service from furtherfuture liability.

In a fourth example, Dan and Trish fall on hard times when Dan loses hisjob still really want the new Madden NFL 20 Superstar Edition videogame. They decide to order the game online. The order is placed in thelocker on their front porch. They retrieve the order when they get home.The delivery, itself, ‘and’ photographs and/or video of Trish grabbingthe package out of the locker at 2:08 AM, the data surrounding thedelivery, such as records of who delivered the item, what time it wasdelivered, and what the parcel containing the video game weighed are allon record. The next day, Dan, not considering that the detailed recordsassociated with the delivery and retrieval are available, gives the gameto his son for his birthday and has Trish telephone the purveyor to actas if the order never got there. After a few days, Dan goes online tothe purveyor's website and launches a complaint about having placed anorder that he never received. The purveyor, taking this matter veryseriously, obviously having visual, weight, time and date informationregarding Dan and Trish's claim immediately declines and refuses todispatch another, expensive replacement, Madden NFL 20 Superstar Editionvideo game to Dan and Trish. The customer, in this case, Dan and Trish,attempted to unjustly enrich themselves through deceitful representationof the duly completed delivery, a/k/a Customer Piracy, at thegood-hearted expense of the large purveyor's willingness to take theirword for it. In this case, the purveyor, who is typically worried aboutits reputation and who is normally ready to immediately re-send theorder to take care of their customer's needs, has been able to savethemselves the cost of the item plus the expenses associated withdelivering it to Dan's house a second time based on false pretenses. Thelocker saves the purveyor over $100 and allows them to answer Dan'sattack online with factual data that dispels his erroneous claim and,moreover, permits the purveyor to assess making future deliveries tothis customer.

In the case of the delivery of perishables (like food and other grocerystore items that may require cooling or warming from a grocer orpurveyor of same), in order to lessen the risk of food or other spoilagefrom overheating or freezing, as the case may be, while the items areawaiting retrieval from the intended recipient and are stored in thelocker, internal compartment(s) 5, 8, 9 and 27 of the locker may bedesigned to be climate-controlled using either thermoelectrictechnologies 9 to heat and/or cool the interior of the locker to thedegree permissible by the environs and temperatures then present andrelative to its location, or in other embodiments, may use or deploymore conventional cooling, like, compressor-based refrigeration devices9 and/or other heat-exchanging cooling or warming mechanisms in cavities5, 8 and/or 9 to provide warming functions and/or other spaceheating/warming alternatives for cooling or heating the interior of thelocker to create and maintain an environment inside the container thatmight preserve the contents for limited periods of time. Battery back-upsystem 9 and 19 may serve as a battery back-up system to energizeheating and cooling systems maintaining the temperatures desired incavity 5 while perishables are being stored therein among other systems,functions, appliances and devices on-board.

In some embodiments, the locker may be used as an alternative form oftemperature-controlled container, like a cooler, portable refrigeratoror a warming box for limited and typically temporary purposes andperiods of time. As such, the locker in its portable form may beutilized as a highly portable and mobile form of refrigeration orheating/warming device for beverages, foods, medicines and the like,wherein it can easily be used as such for the purposes of providingcooled or heated space for the stowing of food items, medicines, andother things of importance to the user in outdoor and indoor,electrified or off-the-grid location and situations such as backyardsaround the pool, picnics, bar-b-ques, grilling out events, camping,hunting, tailgating, parties in remote areas and the like, the device,being wheeled, portable, battery-charging, battery and house-powered orotherwise able to be powered through other like-voltage power sources(vehicles, etc.) through power cords 24, may be used to cool or heatitems by being connected to an electrical mains source through its cordand plug 24, using its on-board battery 27 as a power source with accessthereto through the battery-well hatch 20A, plugging it into anotherlow-voltage power source, such as a car or truck battery throughdirect-connect or alternative means such as through a cigarette lighterinstalled in the car, truck, tractor or other device through its 12 VDCconnector port 26. When connected to an alternative source of power foroperation, the apparatuses' on-board batteries 27 are alsotrickle-charged through a charging system located in cavity 9 in orderto re-charge the on-board batteries using a common trickle-chargingconverter with automatic shut-off 27 once fully charged to protect thebatteries and system of both the source and the apparatus itself.

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is a disinfection method thatuses short-wavelength ultraviolet (ultraviolet C or UV-C) light to killor inactivate microorganisms by destroying nucleic acids and disruptingtheir DNA, leaving them unable to perform vital cellular functions. UVGIis used in a variety of applications, such as food, air, and waterpurification. Maintaining a clean atmosphere inside the container lockermay be important to, generally, prevent the spread of illness when UVGIdevices are utilized to produce strong enough UV-C light in circulatingair or water systems to make them inhospitable environments tomicroorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, molds, and other pathogens onthe surfaces where their UV light is shed.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, given its designed encloseddark cavity as the main depository area for parcels, cartons and itemsbeing delivered, this UVGI process inside the locker, such as in cavity5, and/or inside prescription pocket 27 (RxPocket™) can reduce risk ofthe spread of disease, such as COVID-19, as well as other touch-bornediseases (influenza, cold germs, and the like) as packages are touchedby people and are passed along in delivery processes.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the container locker maycontain at least one, and even an array of, UVGI devices wherein the UVlight may be shed on the parcels contained in the locker while suchparcel(s) wait to be retrieved by the recipient thereof. The UVGIlighting/device or array of devices may be automatically triggered toshed their UV light on the parcels or items placed in the containerlocker through the on-board computer or cellular systems when the toplid is closed and re-locked after a delivery has been made as a layer ofgermicidal sterilization and disinfection (irradiation) of those parcelsand items placed in the locker. For those familiar with the art, otherdisinfection forms of protection for the user may be utilized with or inlieu of UVGI technologies as well in the containment areas of thelocker.

Americans spend nearly $10 billion on delivered-to-the-door pizza,alone, every single year. In fact, according to statista.com, “consumerspending on food delivery in 2015 was worth around 30 billion U.S.dollars—four billion U.S. dollars of this was accounted for by onlinedelivery sales. Delivery services are a popular dining option with U.S.consumers, as a November 2016 survey found that 20 percent ofrespondents use food delivery at least once a week.” In fact, during theCovid-19 pandemic of 2020 when restaurants across the land were forcedto close because of social distancing requirements, take-out anddelivery were the only means through which one might patronize arestaurant. In times such as these, the container locker becomes evenmore useful and important to the masses by providing additionalconvenience to Americans and others around the globe in having a safe,secured and environmentally controlled location to make these types ofdeliveries in their absence at the door. Given the automaticcapabilities to receive orders in the absence of its owner/recipient,and in some embodiments, to heat or cool the contents placed in cavity 5until conveniently retrieved by the owner/receiver from the locker'stemperature-controlled cavity 5, it is uniquely suited for the temporaryplacement and storage of food/take-out orders being delivered fromrestaurants to be held until the recipient is able to or otherwisedesires to retrieve same. In consideration of the time constraints thatmany in the world find themselves undergoing in today's hustle-bustlenever-slow-down times, the locker may provide a well-suited and securereceptacle to receive a take-out-delivery order delivered by a local orregional restaurant when the intended recipient is not at the location,is unavailable and/or is unwilling to greet the delivery person, UAV,drone, manned, unmanned or other delivery means. Regardless when theorder is placed, the goods to be delivered may be sent out to theintended recipient when readied and the locker performs the duty ofsecure, confirmed reception and climate-controlled holding of theordered goods, in this case, food, as the intended recipient is awayfrom the location navigating her/himself home from work or isaccomplishing other tasks like picking up their children, running to thedrugstore or checking on or caring for their senior parent, etc. Inpractical terms, and based upon the terms of the restaurant and thepurchaser/recipient, a food order can be placed by the busiest of thebusy and can be prepared, delivered, placed into the locker'sclimate-controlled environment and held temporarily without spoilageuntil the receiver removes it from the locker.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that examples of such otherdevices and/or processes and/or systems might include—as appropriate tocontext and application—all or part of devices and/or processes and/orsystems of (a) an air conveyance (e.g., an unmanned aerial vehicle ordrone, an airplane, rocket, helicopter, etc.), (b) a ground conveyance(e.g., an automated delivery device or machine, car, truck, locomotive,tank, armored personnel carrier, etc.), (c) a building (e.g., a home,warehouse, office, etc.), (d) an appliance (e.g., a refrigerator, awashing machine, a dryer, etc.), (e) a communications system (e.g., anetworked system, a telephone system, a Voice over IP system, etc.), (f)a business entity (e.g., a delivery or retrieval services company, anInternet Service Provider (ISP) entity such as AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile,Comcast Cable, Qwest, Southwestern Bell, etc.), or (g) a wired/wirelessservices entity (e.g., AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, Cingular, Nextel, etc.),etc.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a delivery and a pickup asused herein, both, anticipate the requirement of gaining controlledaccess into the locker interior through the use of its systems for thepurposes of delivering (i.e., delivery) and/or retrieving (i.e., pickupor retrieving) items, either placing them into the locker (whendelivering) or retrieving them from (when picking up) and that theitem's placement thereinto are conceived as a temporary placement, for aspecific purpose and convenient time for the subject users.

In conclusion, embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a meansfor users to de-risk, record and confirm and secure the material aspectsof the delivery (or pick-up) equation related to the processes ofdelivering goods and merchandise and/or returning them to the originalsender of same, especially when using third-party personnel or servicesor automated means to perform these tasks. Packages can be secured in alocker that prevents the package's ability to be stolen, freeingconsumer's minds and more of their discretionary dollars to use thisform of delivery. The container locker may use on-board electronic scaleand digital load-cell system to weigh items as they are received into orremoved from the container locker. Their weight(s) are tabulated, andthis confirming weight information/data may be dispatched to partiesinterested in the delivery or retrieval along with the UPC information.The user may verify weight coming into the container locker and specificweight data for items being held for pickup in the container locker.This information may allow for the tracking of multiple items beingplaced into or taken from the container locker. Embodiments of thepresent disclosure may be wheeled, highly portable and easilyrelocatable and, generally sized to be brought indoors through a commonsized doorway if desired. They can easily be ganged or collocated ingroups of multiple or many individual units that are permanently affixed(bolted) to its permanent location in a communal secured group facilityor area in residential and commercial types of settings. The containerlocker may utilize soft rubberized wheels or wheel covers to protectinterior floor surfaces when rolled into an interior space such as ahome. On-board batteries and low-voltage power systems may be re-chargedusing other AC and/or DC power alternative sources and can be pluggedinto common 60 Hz/120 v house power to charge the on-board batterieswith the connection through a retractable or non-retractable power cordallowing the locker to connect to other power sources wherein thebatteries may be charged, bypassed altogether, or both. The containerlocker may be connected to other power sources in varied AC and DCvoltage ranges to operate, charge onboard systems or both simultaneouslyor independently of each other and may use a solar collector(s) toharvest solar power to operate its on-board systems or to charge itson-board batteries or both simultaneously or independent of each other.The container locker may include an automated lid (or top) that may beactivated via different human-entered or wirelessly invoked stimuliwhich can open, close and lock with or without the aid of a person andcan receive or hold for delivery items that may be delivered orretrieved by manned or un-manned means or modes such as drone-drop orcargo-carrying robot delivery or retrieval. The container locker mayutilize a cushioned or padded floor system to cushion the fall of itemsinto it in order to prevent items being dropped into it from breakage ordamage which is especially important in un-manned delivery events.On-board antennas, wire connectivity and or other connectivity may beprovided, allowing the systems to be able to be quickly and easilyconnected to, and integrated temporarily or permanently with a litany ofother systems, cellular phones, etc. to provide utility through itson-board computer, electronic and digital systems to connect in ahard-wired, wireless, cellular, IoT and other protocol formats ofcommunication and interoperability. Items may be refrigerated or warmedto maintain ambient temperatures inside its main cavities to preventspoilage of items delivered or items staged there for retrieval. Motioncan be detected around the container locker or in front of it throughthe use of motion sensors to wake sleeping systems, alert others throughinterconnected communications, and perform other functions related toactivity proximate the locker. A microphone may be embedded in itssurface areas to permit delivery personnel (or others) to communicateverbally through the devices on-board, interconnected or uplinkednetworks, and motion and other sensors, computers, devices andappliances on-board and as connected and used through other remoteconnected systems may be provided for security, mobility,communications, cooling and warming, interconnectivity and other formsof capacity and utility to interactivity interact with people, machines,and other things therethrough. The container locker can scan, photographor video areas around it and the inside of its main cavities and canstore or forward this visual data to others to visually verify andvisually confirm deliveries or retrievals. The container locker maystore and/or forward data gathered through scanning to interestedparties such as for security and/or notification. The container lockermay be GPS-locatable and have the ability to transmit alarm data toother locations signalizing to users, law enforcement, or others that ithas been removed from its intended location and to pinpoint its thencurrent location. The container locker can be physically relocated byits remotely located owner/user through computer or cellular phoneconnections to physically drive it, or move it, from one location toanother via a software application (an App), the driver being situatedin a remote location and desiring, for example, bring it indoors, into agarage and/or relocate it to a less conspicuous location chosen by theowner/user after a delivery or retrieval has been made. When alarmed orin a configured alarm state, the container locker can employ its variedforms of exterior lighting, cameras, sounders or speakers andperipherals to indicate and alert audibly or visually to others that ithas been breached, is being or has been stolen or is otherwise at risk.The container locker may interconnect with other access restrictivefeatures, such as digitally/electronically controlled locked gates,locked doors and other access restrictors to provide manned and unmanneddelivery or retrieval personnel or machines to gain access to areasproximate the locker so that they might perform their delivery orretrieval duties at the locker's location. There may be automaticinterior lighting to shed light in one or more of its containmentcavities when such cavities are opened for access by the user and toassist him/her in loading deliveries or when retrieving parcels or itemsfrom it. Exterior lighting packages may be built into the exteriorsurface areas used for security and ambient lighting purposes. Thecontainer locker can utilize a designed docking station that furtherhinders the locker from being relocated from its intended location andwhich may permanently adhere it to a structure to address insuranceissues that may arise regarding its use and being covered underinsurance policies. The container locker may include a tether orretractable tether location-locking system to secure it to immovableobjects like a pole or a house making it exceedingly difficult for awould-be thief to steal the locker and its contents from its intendedlocation. The locker may use a highly reflective material embedded inthe plastics materials used in the manufacture of the exterior shell orwhich is placed on the exterior aspects that permit it to be readily andeasily seen and locatable in vehicle headlights in dark and darkeningenvironments. A glow-in-the-dark material may be embedded in theplastics materials used in the manufacture of the shell exterior topermit it to be charged with sunlight and highly visible in dark ordarkening settings. Waterproof or other forms of exterior sound-speakershoused in the shell structure may provide audible sound and musicthrough its own computer system and wireless or hard-wired connections.Waterproof exterior speakers may be housed in the shell to connect usingUSB connected devices and/or other wirelessly connected devices andsystems connected to the locker to play music and/or to broadcast sound.The container locker may provide a plug-in extension point for extensioncords or other devices or appliances that draw on 60 Hz/120 v commonhouse power to operate. When connected, integrated and communicativewith the sender's or deliverer's barcode or other label or trackingsystems, the locker's computers, systems and optics can seamlesslyrecognize a parcel or items on the parcel or item label (as scanned) andcommunicate this data to others quickly. Thus, embodiments of thepresent disclosure may decrease issues related to (i) Porch Piracyprevention, (ii) Delivery Personnel Piracy prevention and (iii) CustomerPiracy prevention, all forms of theft in the delivery processes, being aunique and useful tool for the sender, the delivery personnel or droneand the intended receiver of a parcel or item, through the use of itsautomatic or manual locking sealed lid system, on-board scale(s) camerasand peripherals and its ability to photograph and communicate withothers to verify and confirm that the placement of a parcel was made ora parcel was retrieved in or from, respectively, one of its cavities.

Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been describedin detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutionsand alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, thescope of the present application is not intended to be limited to theparticular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, compositionof matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. Asone of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from thedisclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter,means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developedthat perform substantially the same function or achieve substantiallythe same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may beutilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appendedclaims are intended to include within their scope such processes,machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

1. A container locker comprising: a first cavity that accepts or holdsone or more parcels; a second cavity positioned below the first cavity,the second cavity having a ceiling that provides a cushioned surface forthe first cavity to receive the one or more parcels, a scale, and ascale deck to weigh the one or more parcels; a third cavity that housesmechanical and electrical equipment for operation of the containerlocker; and a lockable lid that removably covers the first cavity. 2.The container locker of claim 1, the second cavity further comprising: adrop-cushion spring system positioned below the ceiling.
 3. Thecontainer locker of claim 1, wherein the mechanical and electricalequipment in the interior or exterior of the container locker comprisesone or more of the following: refrigeration equipment, heating/warmingequipment, cellular phones and related cellular technology communicationand interface devices, on-board single board computers and othercomputers and interface devices, 4G, 5G (and future versions of theseprotocols) repeater(s) or relay modules to complete 4G 5G (includingcontemplated future versions thereof) networks and communicationsystems, interior and exterior cameras, scanners and optical devices,USB and other computer interface connection ports, Wi-Fi repeaters andboosters, antennas and transmitter and transceiving devices,communication and uplink modules, equipment and devices, electricalcords and plugs and related powering and charging equipment, batteries,battery-well access hatches and locks, security cords, power cords,gyroscopic devices, motion sensors, speakers, horns, piezoelectricsounders, interior or exterior lighting, LED-type ambient, emergency andsecurity lights and lighting equipment, ancillary jumper-duplex outlets,mobility and lid opening motors, gearing, gear boxes and related belts,chains and sprockets, and autonomous movement gearing or sprockets,axles and or wheels, knock-out penetrations, scale equipment, andscale-related electronics and equipment.
 4. The container locker ofclaim 1, wherein the lid operates as a manual lid, an automated tip-lid,or slide-lid for the first cavity through interaction with one or moreon-board systems that perform opening, closing, unlocking, and lockingfunctions.
 5. The container locker of claim 1 further comprising: aninsulative sleeve on a sidewall, the lockable lid and/or floor areas ofthe container locker to control temperatures inside of the containerlocker.
 6. The container locker of claim 1 further comprising: aprescription pocket that is locked and accessible through one or moreaccess points to the container locker or separate independent outsideareas of the container locker.
 7. The container locker of claim 6,wherein the prescription pocket is interiorly secured within the firstcavity and independently accessible from an independent sidewall hatchor locking opening.
 8. The container locker of claim 1 furthercomprising: at least one interior camera that takes photographs and/orvideo of the at least one parcel inside the first cavity, wherein thephotographs, related data, and/or video are transmitted to at least asender, a recipient and/or a deliverer of the at least one parcel toconfirm that the at least one parcel is verifiably secured in thecontainer locker or has been retrieved from the container locker and atleast one exterior camera that takes photographs and/or video ofexterior areas proximate the container locker wherein the photographs,related data, and/or video are similarly transmitted to at least asender, a recipient and/or a deliverer of the at least one parcel toconfirm that the at least one parcel is verifiably secured in thecontainer locker or has been retrieved from the container locker.
 9. Thecontainer locker of claim 1 further comprising: a solar collectorpositioned on top of the lid, wherein the solar collector collects heatand converts into electricity to charge on-board batteries, operate thecontainer locker, and/or charge devices connected to the containerlocker.
 10. The container locker of claim 1, wherein the lid opens toprovide an unobstructed opening for manned or unmanned aerial or roboticdelivery or retrieval of at the least one parcel from the first cavity.11. The container locker of claim 1 further comprising: a retractable orother type of security tether that connects the container locker to animmovable object to secure the container locker in place and preventtheft.
 12. The container locker of claim 1 further comprising: one ormore computerized GPS devices, cameras and motion sensors configured togenerate one or more shut audio or visual alerts indicating a breach orattempted breach of the container locker.
 13. The container locker ofclaim 1 further comprising: circuitry, antennas and related equipmentconfigured for generating transmission of one or more wireless orcellular signals to provide connectivity to local wireless or cellularcommunication systems to provide, repeat, and boost signals to and toprovide locational information of the container locker.
 14. Thecontainer locker of claim 1 further comprising: one or more wheelsaffixed to a bottom portion of the container locker; and wheel coversthat protect surfaces as the container locker is rolled or moved acrossthe surfaces.
 15. The container locker of claim 1 further comprising:on-board refrigeration and/or warming devices to maintain internalambient temperatures to prevent spoilage of contents of the at least oneparcel when placed in the first cavity.
 16. The container locker ofclaim 1 further comprising: at least one on-board ultraviolet germicidalirradiation (UVGI) device or alternative sterilization system tosterilize contents placed into the container locker to sanitizecontents, prevent the transmission of contagious diseases, and/or toclean and to prevent the spoilage of contents of the at least one parcelwhen placed in the container locker.
 17. A DronePort providing asecured, access-controlled area or rooftop or rooftop penetrationcombined with interior areas of the rooftop housing a plurality ofcontainer lockers, the DronePort comprising: a hard surface materialforming a base floor area of the DronePort; an access control panelproximate the secured, access-controlled area that is connected to acontroller to provide selective restrictive access to the secured,access-controlled area; and at least one security camera to providesecurity to users of the DronePort, record happenings in the DronePort,and permit users to see at the access control panel who is alreadypresent in the DronePort, wherein the plurality of container lockers arearranged in rows and segments to permit pedestrian maneuvering andmanned and unmanned deliveries to each of the plurality of containerlockers, wherein each person in a group of people accesses anindependent container locker of the plurality of container lockers. 18.The DronePort of claim 17 further comprising: a security fence around aperimeter of the hard surface material forming the base floor area ofthe DronePort; and a security access-controlled entrance controlledthrough the access control panel.
 19. The DronePort of claim 17 furthercomprising: one or more oversized container lockers that receive largerparcels and/or accommodate when one or more of the plurality ofcontainer lockers are not in service.
 20. The DronePort of claim 17further comprising: programmable dusk-to-dawn or motion-sensing lightingat or near the at least one security camera to promote safety andusability of the DronePort in dark, darkening, or nighttime periods oftime.